Title:  PROCUREMENT POLICY                                       POLICY #354

 

I.  EXPENDITURE APPROVAL

a)        The purchase of goods or services in excess of $5,000 including those from the approved vendors listshall require three bids in leiu of the bid process shall require the approval of the School Committee as identified in sections II, III, and IV below.  The purchase of goods or services in excess of $1,000 but less than $4,900 shall require the approval of the Superintendent or Business Manager.  In the event of an emergency, the Superintendent or Business Manager may request the approval of the Board Chairman.  The Board Chairman shall report said action to the entire Board at the next regular meeting. 

 

Expenditures in excess of $5,000 shall require solicitation of a minimum of three (3)

quotations in lieu of a bid.  The Superintendent shall recommend one (1) of the quotations (based on the criteria listed in section 4) to the School Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.  

 

            Expenditures in excess of $5,000 as identified in section I-A shall require that the bid advertisement and bid specification be drafted by the appropriate department, submitted to the Superintendent or Business Manager for approval and then submitted to the School Committee for approval.  Bid Advertisements and Bid Specifications shall be the same as identified in Sections II and III, to be modified only to identify the individual nature of the bid item.

 

b)    This expenditure approval policy may be waived by the Superintendent and Business Manager with the approval of the Board Chairman if:                               

1. Purchase of commodities or services, the price of which is fixed by a public authority authorized by law to fix rates on prices, or;

        2. When there is only one known supplier, or;

        3.  An emergency exists requires immediate action be taken

 

II.  BID ADVERTISEMENT

            The advertisement for bid solicitations shall be as follows:

            Sealed bids for (item(s) specified) will be received at the Superintendent’s Office, 100 North Brayton Road, Tiverton, Rhode Island 02878 until 2:00 p.m. on (date).  Bid envelopes shall be clearly marked “(bid item)”.  Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud on the Friday preceding the regularly scheduled Board meeting, at 12:00 p.m. in the School Board Room at the School Administration Building.

 

            Bid specifications/documents shall be available beginning (date and time) at the Office of Superintendent.  Every bid shall be accompanied by certified or cashiers check issued by a responsible (FDIC insured) bank or trust company or a bid bond in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the bid amount payable to the Tiverton School Department.  For bids under $5,000, the Superintendent shall have authority to waive the bid bond requirement.

 

III.  BID SPECIFICATIONS/DOCUMENTS

            Bidders must comply with all Federal and State laws, regulations, equal employment opportunities and licensing requirements.  Performance bonds by a surety company authorized to

do business in the state of Rhode Island and satisfactory to the Tiverton School Department equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the bid award shall be required of the successful bidder.

 

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Title: PROCUREMENT POLICY (continued)                                  Policy #354

 

 

            Certificates of public liability, property damage and worker’s compensation insurance as will protect the contractor, his sub-contractors, the Tiverton School Department and their agents from any and all claims which may arise from operations under the bid award, will be required in amounts specified as     (list amounts)      prior to the beginning of any work.

 

            Bids shall not be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days after the opening of the sealed bids.  The School Committee reserves the right to waive requirements of the bid process and to reject any and all bids in the best interest of the School Department.

 

            The bidder must guarantee that all proposed furnishings and materials shall be free of all defects and that repairs or replacement will be made at the bidders’ expense for a period of     (period of time)     from the completion date.  If a manufacturer warranty exceeds this period, then the manufacturer’s warranty period shall apply.  Bid prices must include any and all transportation, delivery, and installation if applicable.  The School Department, without invalidating the contract, may make changes in the work, provided such charges are ordered in a reasonable time and a reasonable charge is paid to the bidder for such changes.

 

            Materials and/or related work must commence no later than     (date)     and shall be completed no later than     (date)     .

            The School Department may require a meeting of all prospective bidders prior to the bid receipt deadline.

            Removal of any debris shall be the responsibility of the bidder.

 

IV.  REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION PROCESS

     a.    The review of each bid by the Superintendent or designated agent, to be followed by recommendation to the Committee shall include but not be limited to the following:

 

     1.    Past practices of the bidding company as observed by or reported to the Superintendent.

     2.    Reputation of the bidding company among the school departments or municipalities presently using its goods and services.

3.    Physical location of the bidding company with emphasis on prompt service and availability.

     4.    Demonstrated flexibility in the event of unusual or unforeseen conditions.

     b.    It is specifically understood that this policy does not bind the School Committee, nor its agents to accept the low bid of any of the bids submitted.  The School Committee is authorized to make an award as it deems to be in the best interest of the school department.

 

 

 

 

Adopted:  5/7/91

Amended: 10/12/04, 2-27-07

Confirmed:  3/5/96

Previous:  #3330           

 

 

 

 

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Tiverton School Committee Policy Manual