DATE: November 3, 2015
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Finance
SUBJECT
Title
City Procurement Policy Update
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That Council adopts a Resolution to approve changes to City procurement policies.
Body
SUMMARY
The City's procurement policies have not been updated in close to twenty-five years. In an effort to align the City's policies and procedures with how the City transacts business today and with current best practices, staff has updated its Procurement Policies & Guidelines manual. While the manual is a staff document that provides guidance to internal City operations, the procurement policies are established through City Council approval.
Staff is recommending that Council consider changes to several key policies, including the threshold and expenditure authority levels required for competitive bidding and the levels for which the City Manager can execute certain City contracts. The recommended changes attempt to correct for inflation while improving effectiveness, efficiency, and consistency in City procurement processes while maintaining appropriate oversight and controls. In addition, staff provides clarification and offers a possible modification to its Local Preference procurement policy. These changes are in keeping with the related provisions of the City Charter, Article XIII, Sections 1302, 1303, and 1304.
BACKGROUND
On March 13, 2015, the Council Budget & Finance Committee (CB&FC) held a discussion regarding the City's procurement policies and possible changes to the current policies. On July 1, 2015, staff brought to the CB&FC a version of this report for feedback on the proposed changes to the City's procurement policy. This report is inclusive of the feedback received by Committee members and is now being presented to the full Council for approval.
There have been no significant changes to the City's purchasing and procurement policies for...
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