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CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 2022-174
RESOLUTION REVISING THE PURCHASING POLICY COMPLIANT WITH
MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE 471.345 (AUGUST 1, 2018REPEALING
RESOLUTION 2018-109 AND REVISING PURCHASING POLICY);
BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, County
of Washington, State of Minnesota, as follows:
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
PURCHASING POLICY
Goal
This policy establishes authority and control over the purchasing process; to assure
that purchases are made in accordance with Minnesota State Statute and conform
to the appropriate administrative control procedures to ensure the proper
disbursement of public funds.
Purchasing Guidelines.
All purchases must be identified as part of the annual budget process and included
in the adopted budget document, or Five Year Capital Improvement Plan.
Purchase order and approval limits
Value Required Quote Required Required
Documentation Approval
Under $2,500 Discretionary Open Market Department Head
Under $5,000 or designee
$2,500-$24,999 Purchase Order Open Market Two Administrator
$5,000 to $24,999 Quotes
$25,000-$174,999 Purchase Two Written Quotes Administrator with
Order/Service Council Approval
Agreement
$175,000 or over Contract Sealed Bids City Council
If a cooperative purchasing agreement is in place, quotes (either verbal or written)
are not required (see Cooperative Purchasing section).
It is the City’s desire to support local firms and merchants. Therefore, when products
or services can be reasonably supplied by local merchants or firms within 5 percent
of the price paid to another vendor, requests for bids or quotations shall be solicited
from local vendors. Local vendors are defined as those business establishments
1
that have a significant portion of their physical plant located within the corporate
boundaries of the City. State laws regarding advertising and bidding will be
followed.
Purchases shall be conducted in a manner to foster public confidence in the integrity
of the City’s procurement methods and in an open and free competition among
prospective suppliers.
Employees will AVOID the following practices in their role as purchaser on behalf
of the City:
Circumventing competitive bidding requirements.
o Examples include –
Splitting purchases so they may be made through
several small purchases
Using a ‘sole source’ exemption when competition is
available.
Denying one or more vendors the opportunity to bid on a contract
o Examples include –
Using unnecessarily restrictive specifications
Pre-qualifying bidders on a discriminatory basis
Removing companies from a bidders list without just
cause.
Giving favored vendors an unfair advantage
o Examples include –
Providing vendors with information regarding their
competition’s offers in advance of bid opening
Giving un-favored vendors inaccurate or misleading
information.
All purchases must be coded to the proper expenditure account. In no case shall
purchases be coded to an improper account in order to use the budget amount in
that account.
Purchases are to be charged to the budget year that the good is received or the
service rendered.
The following purchases shall not require a purchase order but are subject to the
approval limits identified previously in this policy and service agreements
described later in the policy.
Professional contracted services (legal, engineering, auditing, animal
control, janitorial, assessor’s, special studies). Request for Proposals
shall be used whenever possible.
Public improvement projects ordered by City Council which shall
follow MN Statute 429 requirements.
2
Routine expenditures including subscriptions, license renewals and
maintenance agreements, utility costs, insurance payments,
employer share of payroll related costs, SAC, surcharge, bond
principal and interest, publication notices.
Employee reimbursement for miscellaneous expenses, such as
mileage, meals, travel and training, petty cash and parking. Itemized
receipts and/or other documentation must accompany
reimbursement requests for payment. Refer to the most current
version of the Travel and Training Policy when seeking
reimbursement for this type of expenditure.
Purchase orders are required for all purchases of goods and services not included
in the previous list above valued at $2,500 $5,000 or more.
The following steps apply to all purchases of goods and services requiring
purchase orders.
Purchaser submits the purchase request, including vendor name,
address, and description of item ordered, cost and budget/expense
coding in the online financial system. If the purchase has been
previously approved by the City Council, the date of such approval
should be noted.
The online financial system routes the request through the required
approval levels.
Finance Department (Accounting Specialist) issues the P.O. and
sends it to the purchaser.
Purchaser places the order with the vendor.
Purchaser reviews the order when received, signs and dates the
receiving documentation, matching it to the P.O. and retains both
until the invoice is received.
When the invoice is received, the Department Head or designee
approves the invoice, attaches the purchase order and submits it,
with all other appropriate documentation, to the Finance Department
for processing. When submitting an invoice for partial payment of a
purchase order, it should be noted on the invoice that it is for partial
payment of a purchase order.
3
Additional Purchasing Guidelines.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing.
When possible, the City will purchase EnergyStar certified equipment and
appliances and paper containing at least 30% post-consumer recycled content.
Service Agreements
Service agreement’s are needed for service agreements such as janitorial
service or software maintenance contracts. Use of the City service agreement is
preferred.
Professional Service Agreements
Professional service agreements are needed for professional services (legal,
engineering, etc.). Use of the City professional service agreement is preferred.
Capital Equipment Purchases
Council authorizes capital equipment purchases that are identified in the
Operating Budget at the time of budget adoption. Capital equipment purchases that
exceed the amount identified in the Operating Budget will need Council approval
before entering into the purchase. All other previously listed requirements will apply.
Contracts
Council authorizes the City Administrator to sign contracts within the
approval level authority of the City Administrator.
Advertising for Improvement Projects
If the amount of the contract is estimated to exceed $175,000, sealed bids
shall be advertised in the official newspaper and such other papers and for such
length of time a minimum of 10 days. The advertisement may be for a longer
duration and in additional publications as the Council may deem advisable. If the
estimated cost of the improvement is greater than $175,000 (and the best value
alternative is used) then the publication shall be made in the official City newspaper
and a trade paper not less than three weeks before the bid submission date. The
advertisement will specify the type of work and the time and place the bids are due
and when they will be publicly opened.
Sealed bids are required for purchases over $175,000.
Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"
Sealed bid openings will be held at the City Hall. Contracts must be awarded
to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. This does not mean that the
contract is awarded to the lowest bidder in terms of dollars, but rather the lowest
cost bidder who has the technical skill and financial responsibility to perform the
work. After work has been commenced on an improvement undertaken pursuant to
a contract awarded on a unit price basis the council may, without advertising for
bids, authorize changes in the contract so as to include additional units of work at
the same unit price if the cost of the additional work does not exceed 25 percent of
the original contract price. Original contract price means that figure determined by
multiplying the estimated number of units required by the unit price.
4
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0", First line: 0.5"
Formatted: No underline
All contracts over $175,000 shall have the final payment approved by Council with
a resolution along with IC-134 documentation. The final pay request to Council
shall be accompanied with a memo outlining the cost overruns or under runs for the
project. Approval of the final payment signifies acceptance of the project by the City
Council.
Construction projects costing $25,000-$174,999 would be awarded by Council and
a purchase order/service agreement. Additional documentation such as
specifications, quotes, and insurance and contract documents will be maintained in
the City Clerk’s Office. The City Clerk’s Office will be responsible for updating and
reviewing all insurance requirements prior to issuing a notice to proceed on the
project.
Quotations for construction projects costing less than $25,000 subject to the
approval requirements will be submitted with the invoice for payment.
Unbudgeted Purchases:
Unbudgeted purchases over $2,500under $15,000 at the Department Level are to
be approved by the City Administrator prior to obtaining quotes. Unbudgeted
purchases over $15,000and will be awarded by the City Council. to the lowest quote.
All other previously listed requirements also apply.
Emergency Purchases-Declared Emergency:
The City may waive competitive bidding requirements to contract for the purchase
of goods, equipment, materials, and services following the declaration of a local
emergency in accordance with the Minnesota Emergency Management Act. The
City Administrator will submit a written report detailing the emergency and nature of
the emergency purchases to be approved by the City Council.
Construction 429 Projects
Construction Projects under State Statute 429. Contracting for construction projects
shall comply with MN Statute 429.041. Plans and specifications must be approved
by City Council prior to advertising for bids on improvement projects over $175,000.
A. Advertising for Improvement Projects: If the estimated cost of the
improvement is greater than $50,000175,000 but not more than $175,000
349,999, then bids shall be advertised in the official newspaper and such
other papers and for such length of time as the Council may deem
advisable, which shall be not less than 10 days after the first publication.
If the estimated cost exceeds $175,000350,000, the publication shall be
made no less than three weeks before the last day for submission of bids
5
Formatted: Font: Not Bold
once in the newspaper and at least once in either a newspaper published
in a city of the first class or a trade paper. The advertisement will specify
the type of work and the time and place the bids are due and when they
will be publicly opened.
B. Bids: All bids must be accompanied by a bid bond, responsible bidder's
form, cash deposit, cashier’s check or certified check payable to the City
of Cottage Grove in the amount of 5 % of the estimated cost. In addition
to the legal notice, the City must prepare instructions to bidders and
general specifications for the sealed bids. The improvement will be
awarded and a written contract executed with the lowest responsible and
responsive bidder. The City Clerk’s Office will be responsible for updating
and reviewing all insurance requirements prior issuing a notice to proceed
on the project. After work has been commenced on an improvement
undertaken pursuant to a contract awarded on a unit price basis the
council may, without advertising for bids, authorize changes in the
contract so as to include additional units of work at the same unit price if
the cost of the additional work does not exceed 25 percent of the original
contract price. Original contract price means that figure determined by
multiplying the estimated number of units required by the unit price.
C. All contracts over $175,000 shall have the final payment approved by
Council with a resolution along with IC-134 documentation. The final pay
request to Council shall be accompanied with a memo outlining the cost
overruns or under runs for the project. Approval of the final payment
signifies acceptance of the project by the City Council.
Performance Bonds
Performance and payment bonds shall be required from contractors for any
works of construction as provided in and subject to all the provisions of
Statute 574.26 to 574.31 except for contracts entered by an authority for an
expenditure less than $175,000, which will follow MN Statute 469.015
requirements.
Cooperative Purchasing
This policy allows for contracting for the purchase of supplies, materials and
equipment without regard to the competitive bidding requirements of Statute
471.345 if the purchase is through the state’s cooperative purchasing venture
or through a national municipal association’s purchasing alliance or
cooperative created by a joint powers agreement that purchases items from
more than one source on the basis of competitive bids or competitive
quotations per 471.345 sub 15. For a contract estimated to exceed $25,000,
the state’s cooperative purchasing venture must be considered before
purchasing through another source. Purchases for items such as auto,
trucks, etc., costing between $25,000 and $175,000 are subject to the
6
purchase order approval requirements and will submit the quote with the
invoice for payment.
st
Passed this 5th day of September 201821 day of December 2022.
__________________________
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Attest:
___________________________
Joe FischbachTamara Anderson, City Clerk
Formatted: Superscript
7
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 2022-174
RESOLUTION REPEALING RESOLUTION 2018-109 AND REVISING
PURCHASING POLICY
BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, County
of Washington, State of Minnesota, as follows:
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
PURCHASING POLICY
Goal
This policy establishes authority and control over the purchasing process; to assure
that purchases are made in accordance with Minnesota State Statute and conform
to the appropriate administrative control procedures to ensure the proper
disbursement of public funds.
Purchasing Guidelines.
All purchases must be identified as part of the annual budget process and included
in the adopted budget document, or Five Year Capital Improvement Plan.
Purchase order and approval limits
Value Required Quote Required Required
Documentation Approval
Discretionary Open Market Department Head
Under $5,000 or designee
$5,000 to Purchase Order Two Quotes Administrator
$24,999
$25,000-$174,999 Purchase Two Written Quotes Administrator with
Order/Service Council Approval
Agreement
$175,000 or over Contract Sealed Bids City Council
If a cooperative purchasing agreement is in place, quotes (either verbal or written)
are not required (see Cooperative Purchasing section).
It is the City’s desire to support local firms and merchants. Therefore, when products
or services can be reasonably supplied by local merchants or firms within 5 percent
of the price paid to another vendor, requests for bids or quotations shall be solicited
from local vendors. Local vendors are defined as those business establishments
that have a significant portion of their physical plant located within the corporate
1
boundaries of the City. State laws regarding advertising and bidding will be
followed.
Purchases shall be conducted in a manner to foster public confidence in the integrity
of the City’s procurement methods and in an open and free competition among
prospective suppliers.
Employees will AVOID the following practices in their role as purchaser on behalf
of the City:
Circumventing competitive bidding requirements.
o Examples include –
Splitting purchases so they may be made through
several small purchases
Using a ‘sole source’ exemption when competition is
available.
Denying one or more vendors the opportunity to bid on a contract
o Examples include –
Using unnecessarily restrictive specifications
Pre-qualifying bidders on a discriminatory basis
Removing companies from a bidders list without just
cause.
Giving favored vendors an unfair advantage
o Examples include –
Providing vendors with information regarding their
competition’s offers in advance of bid opening
Giving un-favored vendors inaccurate or misleading
information.
All purchases must be coded to the proper expenditure account. In no case shall
purchases be coded to an improper account in order to use the budget amount in
that account.
Purchases are to be charged to the budget year that the good is received or the
service rendered.
The following purchases shall not require a purchase order but are subject to the
approval limits identified previously in this policy and service agreements
described later in the policy.
Professional contracted services (legal, engineering, auditing, animal
control, janitorial, assessor’s, special studies). Request for Proposals
shall be used whenever possible.
Public improvement projects ordered by City Council which shall
follow MN Statute 429 requirements.
2
Routine expenditures including subscriptions, license renewals and
maintenance agreements, utility costs, insurance payments,
employer share of payroll related costs, SAC, surcharge, bond
principal and interest, publication notices.
Employee reimbursement for miscellaneous expenses, such as
mileage, meals, travel and training, petty cash and parking. Itemized
receipts and/or other documentation must accompany
reimbursement requests for payment. Refer to the most current
version of the Travel and Training Policy when seeking
reimbursement for this type of expenditure.
Purchase orders are required for all purchases of goods and services not included
in the previous list above valued at $5,000 or more.
The following steps apply to all purchases of goods and services requiring
purchase orders.
Purchaser submits the purchase request, including vendor name,
address, and description of item ordered, cost and budget/expense
coding in the online financial system. If the purchase has been
previously approved by the City Council, the date of such approval
should be noted.
The online financial system routes the request through the required
approval levels.
Finance Department (Accounting Specialist) issues the P.O. and
sends it to the purchaser.
Purchaser places the order with the vendor.
Purchaser reviews the order when received, signs and dates the
receiving documentation, matching it to the P.O. and retains both
until the invoice is received.
When the invoice is received, the Department Head or designee
approves the invoice, attaches the purchase order and submits it,
with all other appropriate documentation, to the Finance Department
for processing. When submitting an invoice for partial payment of a
purchase order, it should be noted on the invoice that it is for partial
payment of a purchase order.
3
Additional Purchasing Guidelines.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
When possible, the City will purchase EnergyStar certified equipment and
appliances and paper containing at least 30% post-consumer recycled content.
Service Agreements
Service agreements are needed for service agreements such as janitorial
service or software maintenance contracts. Use of the City service agreement is
preferred.
Professional Service Agreements
Professional service agreements are needed for professional services (legal,
engineering, etc.). Use of the City professional service agreement is preferred.
Capital Equipment Purchases
Council authorizes capital equipment purchases that are identified in the
Operating Budget at the time of budget adoption. Capital equipment purchases that
exceed the amount identified in the Operating Budget will need Council approval
before entering into the purchase. All other previously listed requirements will apply.
Contracts
Council authorizes the City Administrator to sign contracts within the
approval level authority of the City Administrator.
Advertising for Improvement Projects
If the amount of the contract is estimated to exceed $175,000, sealed bids
shall be advertised in the official newspaper for a minimum of 10 days. The
advertisement may be for a longer duration and in additional publications as the
Council may deem advisable. If the estimated cost of the improvement is greater
than $175,000 (and the best value alternative is used) then the publication shall be
made in the official City newspaper and a trade paper not less than three weeks
before the bid submission date. The advertisement will specify the type of work and
the time and place the bids are due and when they will be publicly opened.
Sealed bids are required for purchases over $175,000
Sealed bid openings will be held at the City Hall. Contracts must be awarded
to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. This does not mean that the
contract is awarded to the lowest bidder in terms of dollars, but rather the lowest
cost bidder who has the technical skill and financial responsibility to perform the
work. After work has been commenced on an improvement undertaken pursuant to
a contract awarded on a unit price basis the council may, without advertising for
bids, authorize changes in the contract so as to include additional units of work at
the same unit price if the cost of the additional work does not exceed 25 percent of
the original contract price. Original contract price means that figure determined by
multiplying the estimated number of units required by the unit price.
4
All contracts over $175,000 shall have the final payment approved by Council with
a resolution along with IC-134 documentation. The final pay request to Council
shall be accompanied with a memo outlining the cost overruns or under runs for the
project. Approval of the final payment signifies acceptance of the project by the City
Council.
Construction projects costing $25,000-$174,999 would be awarded by Council and
a purchase order/service agreement. Additional documentation such as
specifications, quotes, and insurance and contract documents will be maintained in
the City Clerk’s Office. The City Clerk’s Office will be responsible for updating and
reviewing all insurance requirements prior to issuing a notice to proceed on the
project.
Quotations for construction projects costing less than $25,000 subject to the
approval requirements will be submitted with the invoice for payment.
Unbudgeted Purchases:
Unbudgeted purchases under $15,000 at the Department Level are to be approved
by the City Administrator prior to obtaining quotes. Unbudgeted purchases over
$15,000 will be awarded by the City Council. All other previously listed requirements
also apply.
Emergency Purchases-Declared Emergency:
The City may waive competitive bidding requirements to contract for the purchase
of goods, equipment, materials, and services following the declaration of a local
emergency in accordance with the Minnesota Emergency Management Act. The
City Administrator will submit a written report detailing the emergency and nature of
the emergency purchases to be approved by the City Council.
Construction 429 Projects
Construction Projects under State Statute 429. Contracting for construction projects
shall comply with MN Statute 429.041. Plans and specifications must be approved
by City Council prior to advertising for bids on improvement projects over $175,000.
A. Advertising for Improvement Projects: If the estimated cost of the
improvement is greater than $175,000 but not more than $ 349,999, then
bids shall be advertised in the official newspaper and such other papers
and for such length of time as the Council may deem advisable, which
shall be not less than 10 days after the first publication. If the estimated
cost exceeds $350,000, the publication shall be made no less than three
weeks before the last day for submission of bids once in the newspaper
and at least once in either a newspaper published in a city of the first class
5
or a trade paper. The advertisement will specify the type of work and the
time and place the bids are due and when they will be publicly opened.
B. Bids: All bids must be accompanied by a bid bond, responsible bidder's
form, cash deposit, cashier’s check or certified check payable to the City
of Cottage Grove in the amount of 5 % of the estimated cost. In addition
to the legal notice, the City must prepare instructions to bidders and
general specifications for the sealed bids. The improvement will be
awarded and a written contract executed with the lowest responsible and
responsive bidder. The City Clerk’s Office will be responsible for updating
and reviewing all insurance requirements prior issuing a notice to proceed
on the project. After work has been commenced on an improvement
undertaken pursuant to a contract awarded on a unit price basis the
council may, without advertising for bids, authorize changes in the
contract so as to include additional units of work at the same unit price if
the cost of the additional work does not exceed 25 percent of the original
contract price. Original contract price means that figure determined by
multiplying the estimated number of units required by the unit price.
C. All contracts over $175,000 shall have the final payment approved by
Council with a resolution along with IC-134 documentation. The final pay
request to Council shall be accompanied with a memo outlining the cost
overruns or under runs for the project. Approval of the final payment
signifies acceptance of the project by the City Council.
Performance Bonds
Performance and payment bonds shall be required from contractors for any
works of construction as provided in and subject to all the provisions of
Statute 574.26 to 574.31 except for contracts entered by an authority for an
expenditure less than $175,000, which will follow MN Statute 469.015
requirements.
Cooperative Purchasing
This policy allows for contracting for the purchase of supplies, materials and
equipment without regard to the competitive bidding requirements of Statute
471.345 if the purchase is through the state’s cooperative purchasing venture
or through a national municipal association’s purchasing alliance or
cooperative created by a joint powers agreement that purchases items from
more than one source on the basis of competitive bids or competitive
quotations per 471.345 sub 15. For a contract estimated to exceed $25,000,
the state’s cooperative purchasing venture must be considered before
purchasing through another source. Purchases for items such as auto,
trucks, etc., costing between $25,000 and $175,000 are subject to the
purchase order approval requirements and will submit the quote with the
invoice for payment.
6
st
Passed this 21 day of December 2022.
__________________________
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Attest:
___________________________
Tamara Anderson, City Clerk
7