Every prospective purchase of goods or services shall be evaluated
to determine the applicability of § 103 of the General Municipal
Law. Every Town officer, board, department head or other personnel
with the requisite purchasing authority ("purchaser") shall estimate
the cumulative amount of the items of supply or equipment needed in
a given fiscal year. That estimate shall include the canvass of other
Town Departments and review of past history to determine the likely
yearly value of the commodity to be acquired. The information gathered
and conclusions reached shall be documented and kept with the file
or other documentation supporting the purchase activity.
All purchases of supplies or equipment which will exceed $20,000
in the fiscal year, or a public works contract more than $35,000 shall
be formally bid in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 103
of the General Municipal Law.
The lowest responsible proposal or quote shall be awarded the
purchase or public works contract unless the purchaser prepares a
written justification providing reasons why it is in the best interest
of the Town and taxpayers to make an award to other than the low bidder.
If a bidder is not being responsible, facts supporting that judgment
shall also be documented and filed with the record supporting the
procurement.
A good faith effort shall be made to obtain the required number
of proposals or quotations. If the purchaser is unable to obtain the
required number of proposals or quotations, the purchaser shall document
the attempt made at obtaining the proposals. In no event shall the
inability to obtain the proposals or quotes be a bar to the procurement.
Except when directed by the Town Board no solicitation of written
proposals or quotations shall be required under the following circumstances:
C. Goods purchased from agencies for the blind or severely disabled;
D. Goods purchased from correctional facilities;
E. Goods purchased from another governmental agency or entity;
F. Goods purchased at auctions;
G. Goods purchased for less than $600; or
H. Public works contracts for less than $2,500.
Prior to the purchase of any goods or the entering into of any
public works contract, the purchaser will determine whether the vendor
is either disbarred or otherwise disqualified from bidding on or entering
into a public works contract.
This policy shall be reviewed annually by the Town Board of
the Town of Southport.