[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Norwell. Formerly designated Art. VII. Amendments noted where applicable.]
No contract shall be awarded for any work or service other than professional service in the interest of the Town and no purchase of materials or equipment shall be made, the estimate cost of which in either case is $1,000 or more, without invitation for competitive bids.
A. 
Said invitations shall be sent on the same day to such number of vendors or contractors as the Select Board or purchasing board or officers deem advisable but must in any case be, at least, three qualified to bid on such supplies or service.
[Amended 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
B. 
Said invitations shall state where specifications may be obtained and shall also state where and when such bids will be opened, such opening to be in public.
C. 
Invitations or proposals for goods and services shall meet the requirements and guidelines of the Massachusetts General Laws, when and where applicable. All goods and services other than professional services in the interests of the Town shall be awarded through competitive bidding as required by state statute. Bids and proposals for said competitive bidding shall be publicly advertised by at least one insertion in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Norwell, such publication to be at least 10 days before the opening of bids. Whenever possible, contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Any determination of the contrary must be made in good faith and the awarding authority shall file with the Town Clerk within 15 days a written statement ascribing the relevant and reasonable grounds for selecting other than the lowest bidder.
[Amended 5-14-2001 ATM, Art. 6]
No contracts shall be split up or divided for the purpose of evading the foregoing section.
[Amended 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
In the event the Select Board are unable to secure competitive bids, they are authorized to take whatever action they deem advisable, but the Select Board must certify in writing that the required invitations were sent out and such certifications together with any returned refusals must be filed with the Town Accountant and shall be kept in file open to public inspection at least for three years.
The above sections shall not apply in cases of emergency requiring immediate action for the preservation of life or property or for such supplies and materials for which there is only one source of supply but such reasons for purchases must be certified by the purchasing officer or board.
Funds specifically appropriated for final plans and specifications for any building project shall only be used for architectural fees, and such use shall be limited to payments for those services normally provided by the architect without extra charge.
All boards, committees and departments shall submit a copy of any executed contract with the Town Clerk for recording and then file such executed contract with the Town Accountant.
[Amended 5-6-2019 ATM, Art. 28; 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
The Select Board shall be permitted to sign, award and negotiate leases, rentals and contracts in excess of three years, but no more than 20 years, subject to Town Meeting approval.