A. Authority. The following small purchases may be utilized in conducting procurements for departments/divisions/units that are less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) in actual potential value; provided however, that the procurement requirements shall not be artificially divided by departments/divisions/units so as to constitute a small purchase under this section.

B. Competition and Price Reasonableness.

1. Purchases Not in Excess of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). Small purchases for individual items not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) may be accomplished without securing competitive quotations if the prices are considered to be reasonable. The head of the procuring department/division/unit or the individual(s) as designated in writing by the head of the procuring department/division/unit shall annotate the purchase requisition: “Price is fair and reasonable” and sign. Such purchases shall be distributed equitably among qualified suppliers. When practical, a quotation will be solicited from other than the previous supplier prior to placing a repeat order. The administrative cost of verifying the reasonableness of the price of purchase “not in excess of” may more than offset potential savings in detecting instances of overpricing. Therefore, action to verify the reasonableness of the price need be taken only when the chief procurement officer of the county suspects that the price may not be reasonable, e.g., comparison to previous price paid or personal knowledge of the item involved.

2. Purchases from One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and One Cent ($1,500.01) to Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). Solicitations of verbal or written quotes from a minimum of three qualified sources of supply shall be made and documentation of the quotes attached to the purchase requisition, documentation may include copies of recent publications outlining the price of the items from three qualified sources. The award shall be made to the lowest responsive and responsible source.

3. Purchases from Five Thousand Dollars and One Cent ($5,000.01) to Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00). Solicitation of written quotes from a minimum of three qualified sources of supply shall be made and documentation of the quotes attached to the purchase requisition. The award shall be made to the lowest responsive and responsible sources.

C. Requirement to Advertise. All competitive procurements above fifteen thousand dollars and one cent ($15,000.01) must be advertised at least once in the one of the local newspaper publications or through a means of central electronic advertising as approved by the chief procurement officer and must be prepared in conjunction with the chief procurement officer. The county may charge vendors for the cost incurred for copying and mailing bid or proposal documents requested in response to a procurement advertisement. (Ord. 03-O-04 (part), 2003)