FILE: DJE

PURCHASING

Expenditures of public school monies in excess of $7,500 made by the Board for labor, services, work, the purchase or lease of materials, equipment, supplies or other personal property, with limited exception, shall be contracted by free and open competitive bidding with sealed bids and shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications.

The Board may let contracts for public improvements involving $50,000 or less without advertising or sealed bids.

The Board may purchase locally provided products of equal quality that are readily available from local suppliers at prices equal to other non-local vendors. Pursuant to state law the Board, when purchasing personal property or contractual services, shall give preference to commodities produced in Alabama or sold by Alabama persons, firms or corporations. The Board shall not be limited to making purchases within the local community or the state of Alabama when such local purchases do not meet the quality or competitive price of goods or services available from vendors outside the local community or state of Alabama.

Preference may be given a local vendor having a place of business in the City of Auburn for the purchase of personal property when a bid submitted by such resident bidder is no more then three percent (3%) greater than the bid of the lowest responsible bidder.

The Superintendent or his/her designee shall approve all purchases from district funds. They shall conform to policies and procedures of the Board and all applicable state and federal laws or agency regulations.

All purchases, whether by competitive bid or otherwise, shall take into consideration the quality of the items supplied, their conformity with specifications, their suitability to the requirements of the educational system and delivery terms. All other things being equal, contracts shall be awarded and purchases made from local firms.

A requisition/purchase order system shall be established and followed.

ADOPTED: August 13, 2002

LEGAL REF: Code of Alabama 41-16-50; 41-16-51; 41-16-57