HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2015 - Purchasing Policy (Repealed by Res 2097)
Cover page to Resolution 2015
The full text of the resolution follows this cover page.
Resolution 2015 was amended or repealed by the
following resolutions.
REPEALED
Section(s) Repealed Repealed by Res #
2097
Washington
Resolution No. Z 015
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITYOF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING A
PURCHASING POLICY.
WHEREAS, the City Council is committed to the highest standard of financial
management; and
WHEREAS, the expenditu res of pu blic funds forthe purchase of and contracting for
goods, services, supplies, and materials must comply with all applicable state and local
requirements; and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive purchasing policy helps ensure that public funds are
spent in the most economical and transparent way possible; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to minimize confusion and eliminate
redundancies or conflicts by consolidating and updating the City's procurement policies;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Purchasing Policy attached hereto as ExhibitA is adopted
Section 2. City of Tukwila Administrative Policies 100-09, 300-002, 300-03, 300-07,
300-11, 900-03, are superceded.
Section 3. The Purchasing Policy shall be reviewed on at least a biennial basis and
updated as necessary.
CC:\Legislative Development\Adopting a Purchasing Policy 10-30-20
LH:bjs Review and analysis by Barbara Saxton Page 1 of 2
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this 1-"Vkit day of •-eCerYlkoe-r , 2020.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
C?/r/te:cre-9 /tett-9
Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
e,prod yla saar...0o,a.coo,
./te; QS6?/Mtie
Office of the City Attorney
Attachment: Exhibit A — Purchasing Policy
De'Sean Quinn Council President
Filed with the City Clerk: 12--Z Ze)
Passed by the City Council: lz--4--zP
Resolution Number: 2015
CCALeg islative Development\Adopt ng a Purchasing Policy 10-30-20
LH:bjs Review and ana6lsb by Barbara Saxton Page 2 of 2
CITY OF TUKWILA
PURCHASING POLICY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Procurement Policy Table 1
2. Administration 2
A. Purpose
B. Controlling Laws
C. Compliance with Policy
D. Signing Authority and Approval
3. Determining Total Cost 2
A. Anticipated Cost
B. Prohibition on "Bid Splitting"
C. Total Costs to Include
4. Vendor Relations 3
A. Ethics of Procurement
B. Buy Local
C. Environmental Sustainability
D. Social Equity
5. Grants and Federal Funding 4
A. General Rule
B. Purchases of Goods or Service Reimbursable from a Federal Grant
6. Controlled Commodities 6
7. Types of Projects and Contract Approval Levels 6
A. Public Works
B. All Other Types of Purchases
8. Threshold Cost Negotiation Requirements 6
A. $10,000 or Less: Direct negotiation
B. $10,000-$50,000: 3 quotes needed
C. $50,000 or More: Competitive bids
9. Public Works Projects 7
A. Defining Project Costs
B. City Labor
C. Bid Requirements
D. Small Works Roster
E. Limited Public Works Process
F. Prevailing Wages
G. Bid Deposit, Performance Bond, and Payment Bond
H. Retainage
I. Public Works over $1 Million
J. Alternative Public Works Contracting Procedures
10. Competitive Bidding Process 9
A. Public Notice
B. Bid Specifications
C. Award
D. Cancellation
E. Bid Submittal
F. Bid Security
G. Non -Collusion Affidavit
11. Service Categories 11
A. Professional Architectural and EngineeringServices
B. Personal Services
C. Purchased Services
12. Materials, Supplies, Equipment (unrelated to Public Works, Services, A&E) 13
13. Exceptions to the Competitive Process 13
14. Disposal of Surplus Property 14
A. Policy Statement
B. Definitions
C. Procedures
15. Additional Considerations 16
A. Certificates of Insurance
B. State Contractor's License
C. City Business License
16. References 16
17. Glossary 17
ii
1. PROCUREMENT POLICY TABLE
PROJECT TYPE
CITY/TOWN
COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS
Public Works
Project
Same
Requirement
for ALL cities
If your project is:
<$75,500
$75,500
$350,000
>$350,000
Type of Bidding
Required:
Minimal
Competition
Process
Small Works
Roster
Formal
Competitive
Bidding
Agencies may
seek quotes
directly from
individual
vendors. No
competitive
bidding required.
List of qualified
contractors who
can bid for an
eligible project
below $350,000.
(RCW 35.04.155).
Requires local
agencies to
award PW
contracts to
responsible
bidder with
lowest
responsive bid.
Purchase of goods,
equipment,
supplies, or
materials (not
connected with PW
project)
.
Citiesunder
20,000
population
If your purchase
is:
<$7,500
$7,500-$15,000
>$15,000
Type of Bidding
Required:
Minimal
Competition
Process
Vendor List
Formal
Competitive
Bidding
Agencies may
seek quotes
directly from
individual
vendors. No
competitive
bidding required.
List of vendors
who are
interested in
selling
equipment,
materials and
supplies to the
city. (RCW
39.04.190)
Required to
advertise the
solicitation, but
there is no
required method
or timeframe.
Sealed bids and
public bid
opening
required.
Cities over
20,000
population
Type of Bidding
Required:
State law does not establish any specific bid limits or
competitive processes that first-class cities or code cities
over 20,000 must follow for purchases. You should
establish bid limits and competitive processes in policy.
Professional
Services
Same
Requirement
for ALL cities
Type of Bidding
Required:
All local governments must follow the same qualifications -
based selection (QBS) process outlined in RCW 39.80. You
must solicit competitive bids and evaluate them based on
qualifications, without regard to cost.
Personal Services
Same
Requirement
for ALL cities
Type of Bidding
Required:
State law does not require any thresholds or processes for
personal services contracting. If your project receives any
federal funding, must comply with federal competitive
requirements.
Purchased Services
Same
Requirement
for ALL cities
Type of Bidding
Required:
State law does not prescribe any thresholds or processes
for purchased services contracting. However, some
purchased services may require payment of prevailing
wages.
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
2. ADMINISTRATION
A. Purpose
This policy is intended to direct the purchase of goods and services at a reasonable cost. An open, fair, and
competitive process is to be used whenever reasonable and possible. It is the City's policy to follow state
requirements regarding the expenditure of publicfunds, to provide a fair forum forthose interested in
bidding on public contracts and to help ensure that public contracts are performed satisfactorily and
efficiently at the least cost to the public while avoid ingfraud and favoritism.
B. Controlling Laws
The expenditures of publicfundsforthe purchase of and contracting for goods, services, supplies, and
materials shall comply with all applicable state law requirements as setforth in the Revised Code of
Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), in addition to other applicable local
and federal laws and regulations. The City Attorney shall be consulted when questions regarding potential
conflicts arise.
C. Compliance with Policy
The City's department heads shall implement, monitor, and enforce these policies. In the event of any
conflict in procurement requirements or questions about proper procedure or other requirements, the
matter shall be referred to the Finance Director. Willful or intentional violations of public procurement
requirements may result in personal penalties, financial liabilities, and/or discipline per RCW 39.30.020.
D. Signing Authority and Approval
1) Per RCW 35A.11.010, the City's authority to contract, and be contracted with, is vested in the
City Council. City Council has delegated authority to the Mayor to execute contracts and
contract modifications that meet the criteria of this Policy.
2) Any City staff member purchasinggoods on behalf of the City without proper authorization
may be personally liable to the vendor and the City, and subject to disciplinary action.
3) Electronic signatures of authorized City staff may be accepted pursuant to the City's
Electronic Signature Policy.
4) All work or any purchase authorized with a particular vendor, consultant, or contractor that
cumulatively is expected on a particular project to exceed an annual amount of $20,000 must
be in writing, and approved according to the authority provided forwithin Section 7.
3. DETERMINING TOTAL COST
A. Anticipated Cost
The anticipated annual need for a good or service (when it can reasonably be projected) shall be used to
determine the cost of that good or service, and thus which contractapproval level, cost threshold, and other
related pu rchasing requirements apply.
City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
B. Prohibition on "Bid Splitting"
The breaking of any project into units, or accomplishing any project by phases, is prohibited if it is done for
the purposes of avoiding compliance with bidding statutes. RCW 35.23.352(1).
To avoid bid splitting:
1) Combine all phases of a public work project when estimating cost.
2) Combine the total of foreseen identical items purchased at the same time or within a
calendar year's time, in which the cost exceeds competition limits (i.e. office supplies, laundry
services, janitorial paper products, etc.)
3) Items that are designed, or intended to be used together (i.e., water meters and covers), and
the cost exceeds competition limits, should be bid together.
C. Total Costs to Include
Include costs such as taxes, freight, and installation charges when determining which cost threshold applies. Do
not include the value of a trade-in. Trade-in value should be considered, however, to determine the lowest bid
when competitive bidding is used.
Further requirements for the total quantity of an item (when they can be reasonably projected) should be
considered when determining which costthreshold and related purchasing requirements apply.
Finally, if a projectis to be completed in phases, the total accumulated cost for all phases should be considered
when determining which cost threshold applies.
4. VENDOR RELATIONS
A. Ethics of Procurement
The City is committedto providingaveryfair, transparentand equitable processto our purchases. We ask all
staff participating in a solicitation and/or award processto be thoughtful of any perceived or actual conflicts of
interest. See Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) Section 2.95.030 ("Code of Ethics for Employees and Appointed
Officials") for more information.
The City seeks to avoid situations that involve conflicts of interests orthe appearance of such conflicts based on
inappropriate opportunities to influence thesolicitationand/or award process. The City usesthe measures of
how a reasonable person would perceive the situation. A reasonable person standard might consider howthe
situation would appear if covered by a news story orviewed from the perspective of a public interest group.
Common questions to ask are: Could you comfortablyexplain your actions? Would taxpayers believe you
were acting in their best interest?
City staff should refuse gifts, meals and invitations to events such as concertsor sporting events, that could be
reasonably perceived as: improperly influencingperformance of your official duties; a reward for awarding a
contract; or offered or given to influence, find favor, or with a reasonable expectation of creatingan obligation
to the giver. Vendorsare prohibited from offering gifts during the solicitation and ensuing contract award
process. Contact the City Attorney for assistance if you encounter unusual situations.
Finally, contact the City Attorney before initiating a contract with a former City employee to determine if doing
so would create an actual conflict of interest orthe appearance of a conflict of interest.
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
B. Buy Local
It is the City's policy to take affirmative steps to encourage local businesses to apply to participate in the
procurementprocess. Further,to the extentlegally possible, the City will considerthe use of those local
businesses in orderto support and enhance the local economy.
C. EnvironmentalSustainability
The City is committed to the protection of the environment and has taken steps towards becomingmore
sustainable. Accordingly, departments are strongly encouraged to purchase recycled and other
environmentally preferable products whenever practicable and to encou ragethis of their contractors.
However, nothing in this policy shall be construed as requiring the purchase of products that do not perform
adequately or are not available at a reasonable price.
D. Social Equity
The City shall endeavorto contract with minority-owned businesses and contractorsand materialssuppliers
pursuant to the goals outlined in the City's Equity Policy, which provides guidance to City electedofficials, staff,
boards and commissions, partners, residents, businesses and guests on howto actively promote equitable
access to opportunities and services.
5. GRANTS AND FEDERAL FUNDING
A. General Rule
Not all grant funded projects are covered by this policy because many of the grants have their own
procurementrequirements. Grant Managers are responsible forgrant purchases, but shall consult with
Finance Director or designee priorto initiating any grant purchases. Grant managers are responsible for
ensuring all grant purchases comply with grant procurement requirements.
B. Purchases of Goods or Service Reimbursable from a Federal Grant
When spending federal funding, the City complies with the UniformAdministrative Requirement, Cost
Principals, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) published in Title 2 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (2 CFR 200), specifically 2CFR 200.318 through 200.326, which can be accessed HERE.
Please note that all grants are different, so one size does not fit all. Some grants simply require youto use your
own procurement rules, while others requireyouto insert their contracting clauses into your contract.
However, some general guidelines from the Uniform Standards are outlined below:
1) Section 200.62 of the UniformGuidance requires and defines internal control over compliance
requirements forfederal awards to mean a process implemented by the City designedto provide
reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of the following objectivesfor Federal awards:
a. Transactions are properly recorded and accounted for, in orderto:
i.
Permit the preparation of re liablefinancialstatements and Federal reports;
ii. Maintain accountabilityover assets; and
iii. Demonstrate compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, andthe terms and conditions
of the Federal award;
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
b. Transactions are executed in compliance with:
i. Federal statutes,regulations, and the terms and conditionsof the Federal award that
could have a direct and material effect on a Federal program; and
ii. Any other Federalstatutesand regulations that are identified in the Compliance
Supplement; and
iii. Funds, property, and other assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or
disposition.
2) Section 200.320 of the Uniform Guidance requires the City to ensure that purchasesare procured in
accordance with the following guidelines:
a. Procurement of $3,000 and under: To the extent practicable, the City must distribute these
purchases equitably among qualifiedsuppliers. Purchases may be awarded withoutsoliciting
competitive quotations if the City considers the price to be reasonable.
b. Procurement between $3,000and$150,000: Price or rate quotations must be obtained from an
adequate number of qualified sources.
c. Procurementabove$150,000: Sealed Bids or Competitive Proposals or Sole Source:
i. Sealed Bids— Bids are publicly solicited and a fixed price contract (lumpsum or unit price)
is awarded to the responsible bidder whose bid, conforming with all the material terms
and conditions of the invitation for bids, is the lowestin price.
ii. Competitive Proposals— Used when more than one source has submitted an offer, and
eithera fixed price orcost-reimbursement type contract is awarded. It is generally used
when conditions are not appropriateforthe use of sealed bids.
3) Appendix II to Part 200— Contract provisionsforcity contract under federal awards requires the City
to verify that all contractors are not suspended ordebarredfrom Federal funding. Priorto executing
a federal -aid agreement, the City must verify status with the System for Award Management(SAM)
at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/searchRecords/search.jsf to detemmine if the
contractor/consultant has been excluded from biddingon a federal aid contract. SAM isthe
electronic version of the Lists of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Non -Procurement
Programs (Lists), which identifiesthose parties that have been suspended, debarred, otherwise
excludedfrom bidding on federal contracts orconsultants that will not be eligible forfederal aid
reimbursement.
4) Pursuant to the Washington Secretary of State Local Government Records Retention Schedu le,
financial records pertainingto the purchase must be retained in accordance withthe applicable
Washington State Records Retention schedule. Further, each City Department awarded grant
services shall maintain recordsof all purchases and be responsible forfollowinggrant requirements.
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
6. CONTROLLED COMMODITIES
If the cost of the following item(s) is over$75.00, purchase of the item requires approval from the Tukwila
Technology and Innovation Services Department Director or designee:
A. Computers and related equipment, fax machines, printers, scanners and copiers, cell phones,
telephone equipment, pagers, software or systems.
B. Anything the Tukwila Technologyand Innovation Services Department is requested or required to
install, connect, and/or service.
7. TYPES OF PROJECTS AND CONTRACTAPPROVAL LEVELS
The following types of projects and contract approval levels are intended to be for projects with previously
allocated fundsapproved by City Council.
A. PublicWorks:
1) $20,000 or less Approved by Department Director
2) $20,001 to $39,999 Approved by Mayor, provided the project is in the Capital Improvement
Program (CIP).
3) $40,000 or more Approved by City Council
All public works projects must be within the CIP budget. If additional funds are required, the
request must be approved by City Council.
B. All other types of purchases (professional services, personal services, purchase d services,
materials/supplies/equipment):
Professional services provided by a consultant thatfall under architecture, engineering, land
surveying, or landscape architecture. Contract approval levels:
1) $20,000 or less Approved by Department Director
2) $20,001 to $39,999 Approved by Mayor
3) $40,000 or more Approved by City Council
Cost modifications that, either singly or combined with all previous modifications, increase the
total contract amount from underto overthe $40,000 signature threshold shall be approved by
City Council.
8. THRESHOLD COST NEGOTIATION REQUIREMENTS
The following cost thresholds apply for purchases of supplies, equipment, and non-professional services.
Non-professional services include routine and continuing functions predominately related to physical
activities.
The cost thresholds below do not apply to purchase constituting public works or professional services
(including architectural or engineering services). Referto Section 13 for situations involving sole source or
emergency purchases.
City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
A. $10,000 or Less: Direct negotiation
Purchases in this price range may be entered into through direct negotiation. Competition is not required,
though departments should still make every effort to receive the best price possible. Documentation on all
quotes should be retained.
B. $10,000 to $50,000: 3 quotes needed
For purchases in this price range, at least three quotes shall be obtained. Quotes may be obtained by
telephone or in writing. Documentation on all quotes will be retained. The documentation will include the
date, time, vendor contact name, phone number, email (if applicable), price quoted and any reasons for
acceptance or refusal of the quote.
C. $50,000 or More: Competitive Bids
For purchases in this price range, competitive bids shall be obtained from at least 3 vendors. Bids do not
need to be sealed but shall be in writing. See Section 10 on competitive bidding fora detailed description
of the procedures to be followed.
9. PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS
Public works projects are defined by RCW 39.04.010 to include but are not limited to work, construction,
alteration, repair, or improvement(otherthan ordinary maintenance, engineering analysis, and design and
other professional services) executed at the City's cost, or which is by law a lien or charge on any property
therein. If the Citycontractsoutfor maintenance orrepairs, the work is a public work for bidding and prevailing
wage purposes.
A. Defining Project Costs
The cost of a public works project includesthe costsof materials, supplies, equipment, and labor on the
construction of that project. It is important to determine the estimated total construction of each project in
orderto correctlyapply bid limit dollar amountsto determine if the public works project mustbe competitively
bid. If the total project amount is overthe bidthresholds,then all contracts, no matterthe individual dollar
amount, must be procuredthrough the bid process. The estimate maybe prepared byan outsidethird party;
however, the final cost estimate must be validated by the City.
B. City Labor
The City may use Public Works staff to perform and execute all projects not exceeding $116,155 (multiple crafts), or
not exceeding $75,000 (single craft). RCW 35.23,352. These projects include equipment, material, supplies, and
labor costs. However, the City must provide a report tothe state auditorof the costs of all public worksin excess of
$5,000 that are not let by contract. For any project using Cityworkersthat costs in excess of $25,000, the City must
publish a description ofthe project and its estimated cost in its offidal newspaper at least 15 days before beginning
the work. RCW39.04.020.
C. Bid Requirements
Washington State law requiresthe Cityto call for bids whenever the cost of a public work will exceed $116,155,
if more than one craftortrade is involved. If onlya single craft ortrade is involved, or if the projectis for street
signalization or street lighting, bids must be called for if the cost is greaterthan $75,000. The City has
establishedthefollowing additional guidelinesforthe biddingprocess:
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
1) Public Works Projects $0 to $500: No competitive bidding is needed.
2) Public Works Projects $501 to $2,500: Solicit 3 informal quotes by telephone or in writing.
3) Public Works Projects $2,501 to $10,000: Solicit 3 informal quotes by telephone or in writing,
preferablyfrom the Small Works Roster.
4) Public Works Projects $10,001 to$35,000: Solicit 3 quotes from the Small Works Roster.
5) Public Works Projects$35,001to $150,000: Solicit quotes from at least five contractors on the Small
Works Rosterin a manner that will equitably distribute opportunities.
6) Public Works Projects$150,001 to $300,000: Solicit 5 quotes from Small Works Roster and notifythe
remainingcontractorson the Rosterthat quotes on the workare being sought.
7) Exceptions. If the public works project is$250,000 or greater and is funded in whole or in part
with federal funds, a formal bid process is required. This threshold is set by the federal government
at 2 CFR § 200.88 and 48 CFR § 2.101 ("Simplified acquisition threshold") and is subject to periodic
adjustment for inflation pursuant to 41 U.S.C. § 1908.
8) Public Works Projects More than $300,000: Advertise and call for bids using the formal bid
process.
All contracts are to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. RCW 39.04.350 outlines criteria that a bidder
must meet in orderto be considered responsible.
D. Small Works Roster
If the public works contract is less than $350,000, state law authorizes citiesto use a small works roster process
rather than the general competitive bidding requirementsto award public contracts. The City has contracted with
MRSC (Municipal Research and Services Center) for the use ofa statewide electronic databaseforsmall public
works contractors, consultingservices, and vendors.
E. Limited PublicWorks Process
The limited publicworks process is a type of small works roster process that applies only to contracts estimated to
cost less than $50,000. While no advertisement is required, the Citymuststill solicit electronic orwritten
quotations from a minimum of three contractorsfrom the appropriate Small Works Roster. This process is
described in RCW39.04.155(3) and allows the Cityto waive the payment and performance bond requirements of
Chapter 39.08 RCW and the retainage requirements of Chapter 60.28 RCW. However, prevailingwage affidavits
and insurance are still required. Consult with the CityAttomey for prior approval when waiving both of these
requirements.
F. PrevailingWages
The City is required by RCW39.12.040to require contractors to pay prevailing wages on all pu blic works contracts.
A "Statement of Intent to Pay Prevailing Wages" must be received from a contractor before any payment is made,
and an "Affidavit of Wages Paid" must be received followingfinal acceptance of the work.
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
G. Bid Deposit, Performance Bond, and Payment Bond
The City may require a bid deposit when soliciting competitive quotes or bids. The bid deposit can be in the form of
a certified check or bid bond in an amount equal to and not lessthan5%ofthetotal bid and shall bespecifiedin
the call for bids. All public workscontractorsshall fumisha performance bond and a payment bond in an amount
equal to the total amount ofthe contracton a form approved by the City Attorney. In lieuofa performance bond
on contracts of $150,000 or less, a contractor may re questto have 10% of the contract retained fora period of 30
days afterthe date of final acceptance. The request will be evaluated and accepted or rejected by the City
Attorney.
H. Retainage
Chapter 60.28 RCW outlines the requirements related to retainage. The intentof the retainage is to guaranteethat
laborersand material suppliers will be protected for paymentof any claims arising underthecontract and with
respectto taxes, increases, penalties or liens related to a public inn provement project (RCW 60.28). Retainage may
also be used to satisfytaxclaims bythe Department of Revenue and/or the City, prevailing wage related claims by
the De partmentof Laborand Industries, unemployment com pensation re lated claims by the EmploymentSecurity
De partment, and contract performance claims bythe City itself. State law requiresthe Cityto withhold up to 5% of
the contract price for retainage purposes.
I. Public Works over$1 Million
RCW 39.30.060 spedfiesthat in orderfortheirbid to be considered responsive, every bidderfor a publicworks
contractof over $1 million mustsubmit(eitherwiththeirbid orwithin one hourof the bidsubmittaltime)the
names of all subcontractorsthatwill be usedfor heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbingand electrical
work.
J. Alternative Public Works Contracting Procedures
Chapter39.10 RCW permits alternative public works contracting procedures. The State legislature finds
that the traditional process of awarding public works contracts in lump sum to the lowest responsible
bidder is a fair and objective method of selecting a contractor. However, under certain circumstances,
alternative public works contracting procedures may best serve the public interest if such procedures are
implemented in an open and fair process based on objective and equitable criteria. If the City desires to
utilize the alternative procedures, it shall follow the requirements set out in RCW 39.10.
10. COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS
A. Public Notice
RCW 35.23.352(1) sets out the advertising re quirementsfor the public works bidding process. Forallcontracts
that require bids, notice shall be published in the official newspaper at least 13 days prior to the due date for
bids.
B. Bid Specifications
Bid specifications should incorporate a clear and accurate description of the technical requirementsforthe
material, product, orserviceto be purchased. Such descriptions should not contain features that unduly restrict
competition.
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
When it is impractical or uneconomical to make clear and accurate description requirements, a "brand name or
equal" description may be used. The responsibility of demonstrating to the City's satisfaction that a product is
"equal" to that specified shall be on the vendor proposingthe substitution.
Requestsfor approval of substitutions must be made with sufficienttimeto allow the Cityto adequately review
the proposal, including time for vendors to respond to questions and requestsfor additional information or
clarification. The City has no obligation to accept proposed substitutions.
Acceptance of a substitute product proposed as an "equal" to that specified will be made in writing. Ifthis
acceptance occurs priorto the bid, other bidders will be notified to the extent practical.
C. Award
The contract will be awardedto the lowest responsive and responsible bidder whose bid meets the
requirementsand criteria included in the invitationfor bids, or all bids will be rejected. RCW 39.04.350 outlines
criteria that a bidder must meet in orderto be considered responsible. The City also requires thatthe contractor
must:
• Have or agree to obtain a current City businesslicense
• Be current with all applicable licenses,taxes, and fees owed to the City of Tukwila
In addition, the Cityadopts thefollowingsupplemental criteria which may be used in connection with specified
projects:
• The ability, capacity, and skill of the bidderto performthe contractor providethe service required
• The character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, and efficiency of the bidder
• Whetherthe bidder can performthecontractwithin thetimespecified
• The quality of performance of previous contractsor services
• The previous and existing compliance by the bidder with laws relating to the contractor services
• Such other information as may be secured having a bearing on the decisionto award the contract
When using the supplemental criteria described above, the Citywill include the supplemental criteria in the
bidding documents,togetherwith a basis for evaluation, deadline for bidderto submit required
documentation, and deadline for bidderto appeal a "not responsible" determination.
When a trade-in option exists and is in the City's best interest, the price offered on the trade-in will be
considered when determining the lowest responsive and responsible bid.
RCW 39.30.040 allows any local sales tax revenue generated by the purchase to be considered in determining
the lowest responsive and responsible bid. Other preferencesfavoring local businesses are not permitted.
D. Cancellation
An invitation for bids may be cancelled. Additionally, the City (at is sole discretion) may choose to reject any or
all bids, in whole or in part. A resolution is the preferred method for rejecting all bids; examples may be
found in the City's Digital Records Center or by contacting the City Clerk's Office.
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
E. Bid Submittal
Bids will be submitted as specified in the Invitation for Bid by the appointed date and time listed in the
invitation. Each bid will be dated, and time stamped as it is received. Late bids will not be accepted. If the bid
is fora sealed bid process, all qualified bids will be opened and read aloud publiclyatthe appointed time.
No City representative shall inform a contractorof the terms or amount of any other contractor's bid for the
same projectpriorto the bid opening date and time. Once bids have been submitted (and opened, if the bids
are sealed), the City may not negotiate with bidders. The contract must be awarded to the lowest responsive
and responsible bidder, or else all bids must be rejected.
A written recordshall be made of each contractor's bid on a project and of any conditions imposed on the bid.
Immediately after an award is made, the bid quotationsshall be recorded, open to public inspection, and
available by telephone inquiry.
F. Bid Security
RCW 35.23.352(1) provides thateach bid must be accompanied by a bid proposal deposit in theformof a cashier's
check, postal moneyorder, or surety bond to the City Council for at least 5% of the bid amount, includingsalestax.
The statute adds that "no bid shall be considered unlessaccompanied by such bid proposal deposit."
G. Non -Collusion Affidavit
Each bidder shall be required to warrantthat their bid is genuine, and thattheyhave not entered into collusion
with other bidders, by submitting with their bid an executed and notarized affidavit on a form approved by the
City Attorney.
11. SERVICE CATEGORIES
There are several different categories of services, so it is importantto determine what service you need
because that may guide the manner of solicitation.
A. Professional Architectural and Engineering Services
Professional architectural and engineering (A&E) services are services provided by any person, other than
an employee of the agency, that fall underthe general statutory definitions of:
• Chapter18.08 RCW (Architects)
• Chapter 18.43 RCW (Engineers and Land Surveyors)
• Chapter 18.96 RCW (Landscape Architects)
1) Purchase of A&E services.
By law, A&E consultants are first selected based upon their qualifications as opposed to price. See Chapter
39.80 RCW. This statute says that a city may not consider price in the selection process for p rofessional
A&E services. Rather, the City must select the most qualified firm and then negotiate a price for the work
contemplated.
There are two ways to select an A&E consultant:
• Use a Request forProposal(RFP). This requires the City to draft a written scope ofthe
project and list the criteria used to selectthe consultant from the City's MRSC architectural,
landscape architectural, and engineering service roster pursuant to the process in Chapter
39.80 RCW.
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• Use a RequestforQualifications (RFQ). This requires following the formal RFQ process in
Chapter39.80 RCW.
Once consultants have submitted their proposals or qualifications, as applicable, the City will negotiate a
contract with the most qualified firm at a price the City deems fair and reasonable. In making its
determination, the City will take into account the estimated value of the services to be rendered as well as
the scope, complexity, and professional nature of the service to be provided. If the City is unable to
negotiate a satisfactory contract with the firm selected at a price that is determined fair and reasonable,
negotiations with that firm will be formally terminated. Anotherfirm will then be selected, and the process
continued until an agreement is reached or the process terminated.
2) Publication.
RCW 39.80.030 requires that the City shall publish in advance the City's requirement for professional
services. The City may comply with this section by: (1) publishing an announcement on each occasion
when professional services provided by a consultant are required by the City; or (2) announcinggenerallyto
the public its projected requirements for any category or type of professional service to create a Consultant
Roster. Advertising forthe Consultant Roster must be done at least once a year by MRSC on the City's
behalf. The MRSC Consultant Roster will distinguish between professional architectural and engineering
services as defined in RCW 39.80.020 and other consulting services. Firms or persons providing consulting
services shall be added to the appropriate Roster at any time they submit a written request and necessary
records. The City reserves the right to publish an announcement on each occasion when professional
services or other consulting services are required.
B. Personal Services
Personal services are those provided by independent consultantsthat require specialized knowledge,
advanced education, and/or professional licensing to provide intellectual service. This includes but is not
limited to accountants, attorneys, strategic planners, studies/analysis, and trainings.
Purchases of Personal Services. Personal services can be purchased in a variety of ways. The City
can send a written solicitation to qualified firms or individuals describing the needed services.
This solicitation should request prices, schedules, and qualifications. If helpful, utilize the MRSC
Consultant Roster. Alternatively, develop a formal RFP and advertise forthe services desired.
C. Purchased Services
Purchased services include those provided by vendors for routine, necessary and continuing functions of
the City. These services are usually repetitive, routine, or mechanical in nature, supportthe agency's day-
to-day operations, involve the completion of specific tasks or projects, and involve minimal decision -
making. There are a number of purchased services, however, that hoveroverthatthin gray line between
purchased services and public works contracting. For example, the Department of Labor and Industries
considers some service contracts, such as HVAC maintenance or road striping, to be public works projects
and subject to public bidding requirements. If a particular contract is very nearthe gray line, the
conservative approach is to consider it a public works contract.
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Purchases of Purchased Services. Similar to personal services, purchased services can be
procured in a variety of ways. The City can obtain quotes, or use a formal bid, or an RFP. If
obtaining quotes, include request for price, schedules, and qualifications. Evaluate proposals
received and determine the lowest responsive bidder.
12. MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT (UNRELATED TO PUBLIC WORKS, SERVICES, A&E)
Distinguishing between public works and materials, supplies, and equipment not used in public works is
important because different bidding requirements apply to each. Some "materials, supplies, and
equipment" not used in connection with a public works project or improvement are fairly easyto identify
(rubber bands, fire trucks, copy machines), as well as many "services." Some materials, supplies, and
equipment are more ambiguous. Other materials, including telecommunications, data processing, and
software have specific purchasing guidelines established in state law.
A. Telecommunications, Data Processing and Software. The State Legislature, recognizing the
unique aspects of computer and telecommunication systems, established an alternative process for making
such purchases. RCW 39.04.270, which is available to all municipalities, allows purchases through use of an
alternative competitive negotiation process requiring, at a minimum, the following steps:
1) A request for proposals (RFP) must be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least
13 days before the last date on which the proposals will be received.
2) The RFP must identify significant evaluation factors, including price, and their relative
importance.
3) The City must provide reasonable procedures fortechnical evaluation of the proposals,
identification of qualified sources, and selection for awarding the contract.
4) The award must be made to the qualified bidder whose proposal is "most advantageous" to
the City.
5) The City may reject all proposals for good cause and request new proposals.
B. Additional guidance regarding purchases of materials, supplies and equipment can be found in
Section 8. Referto the Procurement Policy Table in Section 1 of this policy, and ask questions if you are
uncertain.
13. EXCEPTIONS TO THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS
State law provides for exceptions to the bidding requirements outlined in above sections. These exceptions
only waive the competitive bidding requirements, not the contractual requirements, approvals, or
insurance requirements. City staff may not use personal preference as the basis for claiming a single source
of supply.
Exceptions to the competitive bidding requirements include:
• Purchases thatare clearlyand legitimately limited to a single source of supplysuch as:
o Licensed or patented good or service
o Items that are uniquely compatible with existingequipment, inventory, systems, programs or
services
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
o Meets Citystandards (Le. watermeters)
o Factory -authorized warrantyservices
A resolution is the preferred method for sole source purchases; examples may be found in the
City's Digital Records Centeror by contacting the City Clerk's Office.
• Purchases involving special facilities or market conditions
o Item is of special design, shape or manufacturethat matchesorfits with existingequipment,
inventory, systems
o Item will be sold before the Citycan conduct the bid process when over bid thresholds
• Purchases in an emergency(see TMC Chapter 2.57, "Emergency Management")
A resolution is the preferred method for declaring an emergency as a prerequisite to purchases
during an emergency; examples may be found in the City's Digital Records Centeror by contacting
the City Clerk's Office.
• Inter -Governmental Cooperative Purchases
• Purchases of insurance or bonds
• Pollution control facilities and some neighborhood "self-help" projects may be exempt from bidding
requirements
• Cities may hire the state or county to do road projectswithout going outfor bids
• Real property. Acquisition of real property is exempt from the competitive bidding requirements of this
policy. Upon approval ofthe City Council, the City Administrator may proceed to acquire real property
through negotiation. Such negotiations shall be based upon an independentfeeappraisal ofthe
property.
14. DISPOSAL OF SURPLUSPROPERTV
A. Policy Statement
City assets in excess of $500 that are no longer useable, are no longer of value to the City, or are surplus to
the City's needs may not be removed from City ownership, sold, or in any other way disposed without a
declaration by resolution of the City Council. Similarly, items in excess of $100 that are no longer useable,
are no longer of value to the City, or are surplus to the City's needs may not be removed from City
ownership, sold, or in any other way disposed without approval by the Mayor or City Adm inistrator. All
items of $100 or less may be disposed in accordance with the direction of department directors.
B. Definitions
City Asset means any tangible item purchased with City funds valued in excess of $100.
TIS Asset means computers and related equipment, fax machines, printers, scanners and copiers, cell
phones, telephone equipment, pagers, software or systems, and anythingthe Tukwila Technology and
Innovation Services Department is requested or required to install, connect, or service.
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C. Procedures
1) Disposal of City property valued less than $499 shall follow this process:
o When a City department determines an item of this value is surplus to its needs, the
department shall notify the Mayor's Office and all otherCity departments of the item's availability, seeking
first to reassign its use to anotherCity department. TIS Assets shall be exempt from this notification
requirementto City departments otherthan the Mayor's Office.
o If no other departments are interested in the item, it may be disposed in the method
seen most prudent by the department director. The director should first notify the Mayor's Office and
Finance Department of the intended method of disposal prior to finalizing the process for disposal.
2) Disposal of City property valued at $500 or more shall follow this process:
o Reassignment of Assets. When a City department makes a determination that a City or
TIS Asset with a value of $500 or more is surplus to its needs, the department shall notify the Mayor's
Office. The Mayor's Office shall assess whetherthe City Asset can be reassigned within another City
department where it can be of use or value. TIS Assets shall be exempt from the requirementto be
reassigned to otherCity departments.
o Minimum Requirements. If it is not possible to reassign the City Asset or the item is a TIS
Asset, the Mayor's Office shall prepare the asset for a declaration of surplus by the City Council. Each asset
requiring a declaration of surplus must have a value assigned and a recommended method of disposal.
o Methods of Disposal. The primary method of disposal to the general public is by sale.
Recognized methods of sale include direct sale, sealed bid, trade-in or auction. Other methods of disposal
to the general public must be clearly detailed in writing and must have the consent of the City Council.
o Transfer to Another Public Agency. The City Council may transfera surplus asset to another
publicagency upon written request and a determination that it is in the public interest to do so. Such request
shall specify the asset and the inability of the other publicagencyto otherwise afford to buy it. The City Council
may elect to trade assets, authorize the Mayor to negotiate paymentortransferthe asset without compensation.
A resolution is the preferred method forsurplussing of City property; examples may be found
in the City's Digital Records Center or by contacting the City Clerk's Office.
3) Additional Requirements:
o Assets over $50,000. If the value of the asset is estimated to be more than $50,000, and
if the sale or conveyance is to another governmental entity, the provisions of RCW Section 39.33.020 shall
apply. This includes several requirements, includinga public hearing and certain notice provisions.
o Utility Assets. If the asset was originally purchased for utility purposes, the provisions of
RCW Section 35.94.040 shall apply. This includes several requirements, including a resolute and public
hearing.
o Trade -Ins: Trade-inof old equipmentto upgrade similar or reasonablyrelated equipment is
permitted when it is in the best interest of the City. The requesting Department Director shall be responsible for
the sale, trade, or other disposition of surplus propertyand scrap belonging to the City of Tukwila when usedfor
a trade-in. Trade-ins must be negotiated,documented at "Fair MarketValue" by the Department Director, and
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
declared surplus ahead of time by the City. Fair Market Value can be determined by finding comparable units
that have been sold at online auctions.
0 Other: If the asset proposed as surplus is evidence released by the Court, seized assets or
unclaimed property, the Mayor's Office shall review the appropriate statutes prior to asking the City
Council to declare it surplus.
4) Final Determination of Value
When disposal is made to the general publicthroughdirectsale,sealed bid or auction, final
determination of value shall be the highestresponsible bid or offer.
5) Prohibited Benefit
It is recognized that City Council members and Mayor are prohibited by state law from benefiting
from the disposal of public assets ofthe City. Great care should be takento assure that a perception of benefit
to employees and others doing businesswith the City does not occur.
6) Delegation of Authority
The City Council may elect to delegate the taskof deciaringitems surplusto the Mayor by amending
oraddingtothis policy and identifying the conditions thereofwithinthis policy. If such a delegation is made,the
prohibition of benefitingfromthe disposal of public assets is extended to the Mayor and his/her immediate
staff.
15. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
A. Certificates of Insurance
The contractororconsultant may be required to provide the City with a Certificate of Insurance, naming the City
as a primary and noncontributory additional insured with an additional attached endorsement. Insurance
requirements are determined by WCIA (Washington Cities Insurance Authority) and the CityAttorney.
B. State Contractor's License
It is unlawfulforthe City to hire anyone to perform publicworkon our propertythat does not have a valid State
of Washington Contractor's License. If someone is not properly licensed, DO NOT HIRETHEM. You may lookup
a contractor to determine if they have a valid Contractor's License at via the Washington State Department of
Labor and Industry'swebsite: https://Ini.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/hiring-a-contractor/verify-
contractor-tradesperson-business
C. City Business License
A City of Tukwila business license may be requiredfor any person or businessworking inside the city limits. See
TMC Title 5, "Business Licenses and Regulations" for specifics.
16. REFERENCES
Revised Code of Wash ington (RCW) 39.80 (Contractsfor Architectural and EngineeringSe rvices)
RCW 39.04 ( Public Works)
RCW 39.34 (Interlocal Cooperation Act)
RCW 35A.40 (Fiscal Provisions applicable to Code Cities), 35.23 (Second Class Cities)
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Municipal Research ServicesCenter (MRSC) publication: "City Bidding Book—Washington State"
Federal Office of Management and Budget(OMB) Uniform GuidanceCFRs: Title 2CFR 200. et al
City of Tukwila Grants Policy (TBD)
Procurement Card (Pcard) UserManual
City of Tukwila Administrative Policy- Equity Policy
City of Tukwila Administrative Policy 400-05— Processingof Contracts/Agreements
City of Tukwila Capital Improvement Program Policies and Procedures
17. GLOSSARY
Amendment— Written modification or addition to a purchase order orcontractauthorized by the appropriate
authority.
Bid — The executed document submitted by a bidder in response to a notice inviting bids, a proposal, or a
request for qualifications.
Bid Bond—A bond or deposit submitted with a bid, fora sum not less than 5% of the bid amount (including sales
tax). Designed to help ensure that a bid has been made in goodfaith and thatthe bidder will enter into a contract
if a bid is accepted.
Bidder—A person or legal entity who submits a bid in response to a solicitation.
Competitive Bidding — The submission of prices by individuals orfirmscompetingfora contract, privilege, or
right to supply merchandise or services.
Contract— A verbal or written, legally binding mutual promise between at Yeast two parties.
Designee — A duly authorized and appointed representative of an employee that holds a superior position to
the person appointed to represent him or her.
Emergency— Unforeseen circumstances beyond the City's control that present a real, immediate threattothe
proper performance of essential functions, or that will likely result in material lossto property, bodily injury, or
loss of life if immediate action is not taken.
"Equitably distribute"— Means the City may not favor certain contractors on the appropriate Small Works
Roster over other contractors on the appropriate Small Works Roster who perform similar services.
Lowest (Responsive and) Responsible Bidder—The bidder submitting the lowest price that is also capable of
performing the proposed contract. See also "responsive bidder" and "responsible bidder."
Non -Professional Services or Purchased Services —Services provided by vendors for routine, necessary and
continuing functions of a local agency, relative to a physical activity. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Courierservices
• Janitorial services
• Disposal services
• Vehicle inspection, repairorup-fitting
• Office furnishing installation
• HVAC system maintenance
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
Ordinary Maintenance— Work not performed by contract and that is performed on a regular basis (daily,
weekly, monthly— but not less than once peryear)to service, check or replace itemsthat are not broken. Also
defined as work not performed by contract that is not regularlyscheduled, but is required to maintain an asset
so that repair does not become necessary.
Prevailing Wages— The hourly wages, usual benefits, and overtime paid in the largest city in each countyto the
majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics. Prevailing wages are established by the Washington State
Department of Labor and Industriesforeach trade and occupation employed in the performance of public
work. Theyare established separatelyfor each county, and are reflective of local wage conditions.
Professional Services— Services which provide professional or technical expertise to accomplish a specific study,
project, task, or other workstatement. Examples include, but are notlimitedto:
• Architectural, engineeringor design services
• Accountingand auditing
• Bond or insurance brokerage
• Consulting services
• Legal services
• Real estate appraisals or title abstracts
• Relocation assistance
• Surveying
• Soils analysis or core testing
• Water quality monitoring
Public Work— All work, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement otherthan ordinary maintenance,
executed at the cost of the City, or which is by law a lien or charge on any propertytherein.
Quotation—A statement of price, terms of sale, and description of goods or services offered by a prospective
seller to a prospective purchaser, usuallyfor purchases below the amount requiring formal bidding. For
professional service contracts, quotes would typically include the qualifications of the providerand may or may
not include pricing information depending on the situation.
Requestfor Proposal (RFP) — All documents, whether attached or incorporated by reference, utilized for
soliciting competitive proposals. The RFP procedure permits negotiation of proposals and prices, as distinguished
from competitive bidding and a notice inviting bids. The procedure allows changes to be made after proposals
are opened and contemplatesthat the nature of the proposals and/or prices offered will be negotiated priorto
award.
Request for Qualification (RFQ) —A document generally used for obtaining summary of qualification from
prospective providers of professional services.
Responsible Bidder— A person or legal entitywho has the capabilityin all respects to perform in fullthe
contract requirements, and the integrity and reliabilitywhich will assure good faith performance.
Responsive Bidder— A person or legal entity who has submitted a bid conforming in all material respects to the
terms and conditions,specifications and other requirements in a request for bids.
Sealed Bid —A bid which has been submitted in a sealed envelope to prevent its contents from being revealed
before the deadline for the submission of all bids.
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City of Tukwila Purchasing Policy 12-1-2020
Sole Source—An award fora purchase to the only reasonably known capable vendor due to the unique nature
of the requirement, thevendor, or market conditions.
Specifications—A description of what the purchaser seeksto buy or accomplish — and consequentlywhat a
bidder must be responsiveto in orderto be consideredfor award of a contract. May be a description of the
physical orfunctional characteristics, orthe nature of a supply orservice. May also include a description of any
requirementsfor inspecting,testing, or preparinga supply or service item for delivery.
Surplus property— Any tangible, personal property owned by the Citythat is no longer needed or usable,
presently or in the foreseeable future.
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