Conflict of Interest
The District maintains a written code of standards of conduct which governs the performance of District employees who may be engaged in the award and administration of contracts. These standards will include a prohibition against employees who are involved in the selection, award or administration of a contract supported by federal funds, if a conflict of interest, real or apparent, would be involved.
A conflict of interest would arise if a District board member or employee, any member of their family, their partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties named in this paragraph, has a financial or other interest in the firm selected for the award.
Neither District board members, nor employees will accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors, potential contractors or parties to sub-agreements. This rule will not apply to gifts of less than ten dollars ($10.00), or is an unsolicited item of nominal intrinsic value. Violations of these conflict-of-interest provisions will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination for employees, and up to and including public sanction of a violating Board member.
Avoidance of Unnecessary/Duplicate Purchase
The District will review proposed procurements to avoid purchases of unnecessary or duplicative items. Consideration will be given to consolidating or breaking out procurements to obtain a more economical purchase. Where appropriate, an analysis will be made of lease versus purchase alternatives, and any other appropriate analysis to determine the most economical approach. Where appropriate to foster great economy and efficiency, the District will consider entering into state and local intergovernmental agreements for procurement, or lease of common goods and services. Moreover, where appropriate, the District will use federal excess and surplus property in lieu of purchasing new equipment and property.
The District will, when appropriate, consider and utilize value engineering clauses in contracts for construction projects for cost reductions. In making awards, the District will select contractors to successfully perform under the terms of the procurement. In analyzing the suitability of contractors, consideration will be given to contractor integrity, compliance with public policy, past performances, as well as financial and technical services.
Recordkeeping
The District will maintain records sufficient to detail the significant history of a procurement. These records will include, but not be limited to, the following:
Time and Material Type Contracts
The District will use time and material contracts only after a determination has been made that no other contract is suitable and, if the contract includes a ceiling price, which the contractor may exceed only at its own risk.
Contractor Compliance Resolution
The District is responsible for resolution and settlement of all contractual and administrative issues arising out of federal related procurements including, but not limited to, source evaluation, protests, disputes and claims. Violations of law will be referred to the local, state or federal authority having jurisdiction.
The District will maintain procedures to handle and resolve procurement disputes, including provisions to share information regarding the protest to the awarding agency.
Competition for Contract Awards
The District will conduct all procurement transactions in a manner providing full and open competition. In doing so, the District will avoid:
The District will avoid in such federal procurements administratively imposed state or local geographical preferences in the evaluation of bids or proposals, except where federal law expressly mandates or encourages such preferences. However, when contracting for architectural and engineering services, geographic locations may be a selection criteria provided the use of such criteria leaves a sufficient number of qualified firms to compete for the contract.
Procedures for Procurement Transactions
The District will ensure a clear and accurate description of the technical requirements for the material, product or service to be provided under federally related procurements. The description may include a statement of the qualitative nature of the material, product or service to be procured and when appropriate will set forth those minimum essential characteristics and standards to which it need conform in order to satisfy the intended use. Where appropriate, a “brand name or equal” description may be used to define the performance or other requirements of a procurement.
The District will ensure that all prequalified lists of persons, firms, or products are current and include enough qualified sources to ensure maximum open and free competition. Potential bidders will not be precluded from qualifying during the solicitations process. Prior to purchases exceeding $25,000, the District will review the current “Excluded Parties List” to ensure that the successful vendor is not debarred or suspended.
Methods of Procurement Affecting
Micro Purchases
For small purchases under Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), price quotations will be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources. Micro purchases will be distributed equally among qualified vendors.
Small Purchases
The District will utilize the following procurement procedures for purchases of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) or less: The District, where feasible, will obtain at least three (3) bids or quotes for each such purchase. The District will maintain documentation for all “small purchases,” including the small purchase item, identity of quotes/bids, amount of such bid/quotes, and the date of purchase.
Sealed Bids
When procurement is by sealed bid (formal advertising), bids are publicly solicited and a firm-fixed price contract is awarded, the award will be made to the responsible bidder whose bid, conforming with all material terms and conditions of the invitation to bid, is the lowest in price. The sealed bid procurement method will be utilized for all purchases in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000). The sealed bid method is preferred for construction if the following conditions apply:
If sealed bids are used, the following requirements apply:
Competitive Proposal
The District will utilize a competitive proposal method when conditions are not appropriate for the use of sealed bids. This method will be utilized where either a firm-fixed price is capped or cost reimbursement contract is available. When this method is used, the following requirements will apply:
Noncompetitive Sole Source
Where appropriate, procurement may be made by a proposal from any one source, or after solicitation competition is deemed inadequate. This method will be used when small purchase procedures, sealed bid, or competitive proposals are not feasible and one of the following applies:
Contract Cost and Price
The District will perform a cost or price analysis in connection with every procurement action. At a minimum, the District will make independent estimates before receiving bids or proposals. A cost analysis will be required when adequate price competition is lacking and for sole source procurements, unless price reasonableness can be established on the basis of catalog or mailed price. The District will negotiate profit as a separate element of the process for each contract.
Contracting with Small and Minority Firms, Women’s Business Enterprise and Labor Surplus Area Firms
The District will take all necessary steps to assure participation of such firms. Affirmative steps will include:
Costs or prices on estimated costs will be allowable only to the extent that costs incurred or cost estimates are consistent with federal cost principals. The District will not use a cost, plus a percentage of cost, and a percentage of construction cost method.
Agency Review
The District will make available, upon request of the federal agency, all documents, including but not limited to, procurement specifications, invitations to bid, procurement procedures, and pre-award documents.
Biding Requirements
The District will require bonding for all construction or facility improvements ensuring that the awarding federal agency’s interests are adequately protected as provided in federal regulations.
Contract Provisions
The District’s contracts under the Regulation will include:
Background Checks
All District vendors shall conduct criminal record and sexual offender background checks on each of its employees who, under a procurement contract, may provide services on District property or at District events. Copies of such record requests will be provided to the District upon request.
Faith Based Organizations
Faith based organizations are eligible to contract with those Districts on federally related contracts on the same basis as any other private organization. In such contracting, the District will not discriminate for or against an organization based on the organization’s religious character or affiliation. However, private organizations that engage in inherently religious activities, such as religious workshops, instruction or proselytization must offer these services separately in a time or location separate from any programs or services supported by a federally related District contract.
A faith-based organization that contracts with the District on a federally related contract may retain its independence, autonomy, right of expression, religious character and authority over its governance.