Procurement Policies and Procedures

4.0 Procurement Methods when Competitive Bidding and Public

Advertising are Not Required

4.11 City Purchases from Local Sources

TCA 12-3-1201 allows the city to purchase goods and services from local sources without competitive bidding and public advertising if: 1) the good or service is available for purchase under contracts or price agreements entered into by the state’s central procurement office, 2) the local price is the same or lower as the state’s contract pricing, and 3) the local product is of equal or better specifications that the state’s contract specifications.

4.12 Cooperative Purchasing Agreements with Other Local Governments in the State

TCA 12-3-1205 authorizes the city to participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any goods, supplies, services, equipment, or construction with one or more other local governments in the state in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants.

4.13 Cooperative Purchasing Agreements with Other Local Governments Outside the State and

the Federal Government

TCA 12-3-1205 authorizes the city to participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any goods, supplies, services, or equipment that were procured in a manner that constitutes competitive bidding and were advertised, evaluated, and awarded by a governmental entity and made available for use by other governmental entities. The city may enter into an agreement with one or more governmental entities outside the state or with a federal agency to the extent the laws of the other state or the laws of the federal government allow joint purchasing. The city shall acquire and maintain documentation that the purchasing entity that procured the bid complied with its own purchasing requirements. Exceptions include the purchase of new or unused motor vehicles unless the motor vehicles are manufactured for a special purpose as specified in TCA 12-3-1208 including but not limited to school buses, buses with capacity exceeding 22 passengers used to provide public transportation, garbage trucks, fire trucks, ambulances, or new or unused construction equipment. Exceptions also include the purchase of construction, engineering, or architectural services or construction materials or fuel.

4.14 Cooperative Purchasing Using Master Agreements

TCA 12-3-1205 and City Resolution 2020-32 authorizes the city to participate in master cooperative purchasing agreements to purchase goods and services from national cooperative purchasing alliances such as Sourcewell, Omnia, and Naspo. The city is required to acquire and maintain documentation that the purchasing entity with the master agreement complied with its own purchasing requirements.

4.15 Purchases from Other Local Government Contracts and Price Agreements

TCA 12-3-1203 allows the city to purchase supplies, goods, equipment, and services under contracts or price agreements entered into by any other local government agency of the state without competitive bidding and public advertising. Exceptions include the purchase of new or unused motor vehicles unless the motor vehicles are manufactured for a special purpose as specified in TCA 12-3-1208 including but not limited to school buses, buses with capacity exceeding 22 passengers used to provide public transportation, garbage trucks, fire trucks, ambulances, or new or unused construction equipment. Exceptions also include the purchase of transportation infrastructure projects such as construction and improvements of streets, highways, bridges, tunnels, or any roadway related facility. When purchasing from other local government contracts, the city will handle payments, refunds, returns, and any other communications or requirements without involving the local government that originated the contract. The originating local government shall have no liability or responsibility for any purchases made by the city. 11