The School District may need to engage the services of an architect, engineer, or land surveyor when capital improvement or other District needs arise. The District recognizes that hiring architects, engineers, or land surveyors who have performed acceptable work for the District in the past promotes continuity, efficiency, and quality. The District also recognizes that a construction contractor retained by the District may wish to work with a particular architect, engineer, or land surveyor with whom it has a solid working relationship. It shall be the formal practice of this District to observe the following procedures when the District determines that architectural, engineering, or land surveying services are needed.

When the District determines that it may need to engage the services of an architect, engineer, or land surveyor, the Board of Education shall first attempt to select and conduct contractual negotiations for such a service with a professional who falls within one of the two following categories: (1) any architect, engineer, or land surveyor who has contracted previously with the District to provide services to the District; or (2) any architect, engineer, or land surveyor who has been recommended to the District by a construction contractor with whom the District is familiar.

If the Board of Education determines that an architect, engineer, or land surveyor selected from one of the two categories in the prior paragraph is appropriate for the project contemplated, then contractual negotiations may be conducted with that architect, engineer, or land surveyor, and a contract may be executed between the District and that professional. The determination of whether a particular architect, engineer, or land surveyor is "appropriate" for a project is discretionary on the part of the Board of Education.

If the District cannot agree upon the terms of a contract with the architect, engineer, or land surveyor whom it has selected and with whom it has negotiated, or if the District determines that a professional selected according to this policy is not appropriate, the District will then attempt to select an appropriate architect, engineer, or land surveyor through advertisements inviting the submission of proposals or by directly contacting other architects, engineers, or land surveyors. After making its selection pursuant to this paragraph, the District will attempt to negotiate a contract with that professional. The District will continue to follow the procedures outlined in this policy until a contract has been executed between the District and an appropriate architect, engineer, or land surveyor.

Under this policy, the terms "architect," "land surveyor," and "professional" include, but are not limited to, any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity providing architectural, engineering, or land surveying services.