The President of the Town Council is authorized to appoint a committee
of five members to be known as the “Procurement Committee.”
Pursuant to the provisions of Article IX of the Town Charter, any purchase
of supplies, materials, equipment or contracts for supplies, materials, equipment
or work, the value of which is $400 or more, shall be made or entered into
only after public advertisement in a newspaper having a general circulation
in the Town.
The public advertisement referred to in §
62-2 shall be published at least five days prior to the purchase or contract date and it shall state therein the activity or work solicited and specify by general description the essential characteristics of such article or work. The advertisement shall further designate the time, day, date and place for all prospective bidders to return their bid and public opening thereof.
All bids received as a result of advertising therefor shall be awarded
to the lowest responsible bidder; except that the purchasing authority may
be directed by the Town Council to reject any or all bids and to readvertise
for bids or go on to the open market.
A performance bond shall be required, where deemed necessary, of any
successful bidder in such amount and with such surety as the Town Council
may specify.
Bids, specifications, and all other factors being equal, preference
shall be given to a bidder whose residence or place of business is in the
Town.
All contracts in excess of $1,000 for public works, as defined in R.I.G.L. § 37-13-1, shall be included in the requirements of this chapter. All contracts for public works for less than $1,000 shall not be included within the terms of this chapter, as provided by Sec.
9-6 of the Town Charter.
The Finance Director, or an officer appointed or designated by him, as provided for in Sec.
9-5, Paragraph (12), of the Town Charter, shall perform the work of buying for the Town, and shall, in accordance with this article, purchase or contract for all supplies, materials, equipment or work.
The Finance Director, in performing the duties imposed upon him by the Town Charter and by the terms of this article, shall exercise control of all expenditures by preauditing all bills, invoices, payrolls or other evidence of claims or charges against the Town and shall prescribe uniform forms of receipts, vouchers, bills and claims to be used by all departments, offices and agencies of the Town as provided for in Sec.
9-5, Paragraphs (6) and (9), of the Town Charter.
No purchase or contract made or entered into other than in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be binding or enforceable against the Town as provided in Sec.
9-12 of the Town Charter.