§ 2-105. Competitive sealed bids.

(a)

Generally. Any purchase of a good or service, individually or collectively for a project or ongoing need, except as otherwise provided in this division, in which the total expenditure is reasonably estimated to be greater than $50,000.00 in a fiscal year or calendar year, shall require competitive sealed bids and award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; provided, however, that the board of county commissioners shall have the authority to waive the competitive sealed bid requirement if it deems it advisable to do so.

(b)

Notice inviting bids.

(1)

Newspaper. When statutorily required, a public notice inviting competitive sealed bids shall be published once in at least one newspaper distributed in the county and at least five full working days prior to the last day set for the receipt of bids. The newspaper notice shall include a general description of the goods or services to be purchased or items to be sold, shall state where bidding documents may be secured and the time and place for opening bids.

(2)

Vendors list. The purchasing director shall solicit competitive sealed bids using a vendors list that is current and openly available to all interested vendors. Competitive bids shall be solicited in an open manner in which interested vendors are notified and treated equally without special advantage or benefit.

(c)

Bid surety. When deemed necessary by the director, bid surety shall be required with notice of the same being included in the public advertisement and invitation. Unsuccessful bidders shall be entitled to return of surety at such time when the director deems advisable or when award has been made, whichever is earlier. A successful bidder shall forfeit any surety required by the director upon failure of the bidder to enter into a contract within ten business days after written notice of award. The purchasing director shall have the authority to extend the time required for the bidder to enter into a contract provided the bidder is acting in good faith and the director deems that such forfeiture would otherwise delay or create a situation that is deemed not to be in the county's best interest.

(d)

Bids received.

(1)

Sealed bids. Bids shall be sealed and submitted by the time and date and in the manner prescribed in the invitation.

(2)

Opening. Bids shall be opened in public at the time and place stated in the public notice and shall be witnessed and documented by at least two county employees.

(3)

Tabulation. A tabulation of all bids received shall be prepared and made available for public inspection in accordance with Florida Law.

(e)

Multi-step sealed bidding. When it is considered impractical to initially prepare a purchase description to support an award based on price, the purchasing director may cause an invitation for bids to be issued (first step) requesting the submission of unpriced offers to be followed by the submission of priced offers (second step) by those bidders whose offers have been qualified under the criteria set forth in the first step.

(Ord. No. 15-26, § 2, 12-15-15)