Title
Approving the first amendment to the City of Pflugerville Purchasing Policy.
Summary
The proposed Purchasing Policy amendments, shown in the redlined version of the document attached to this agenda item, are intended to provide greater transparency, ensure compliance with state law, and increase operational efficiency.
A summary of the material changes include:
· Contracting authority for department directors increased from $3K to $25K.
· "Request for Quotes (RFQ)” has been replaced with “Informal Quotes” to not be confused with “Request for Qualifications.”
· Purchases over $50,000 section includes an amendment to delegate to the City Manager the authority to approve routine purchases of bulk materials used in normal operations and facility maintenance.
· Professional Services has been moved to a later section and updated to align with state law. The amendment will remove the requirement to follow the request for qualification two-step process that was approved in 2002 by Council in addition to state purchasing requirements. This amendment would repeal prior resolutions and streamline the process required to hire professional services firms for architects, engineers, and surveyors allowing user departments to select firms based on qualifications and negotiated fees.
· A section for performance bond requirements for construction projects has been added for greater transparency and state law compliance. Performance bonds are solely for the protection of the City.
· A modification regarding Alternative Delivery Methods, as provided by state law, has been proposed for Council to delegate authority to the City Manager or authorized designee the approval of Alternative Delivery Methods to provide the best value to the City. This would streamline the required steps to initiate formal proposals for construction projects. Alternative delivery methods include construction manager at risk, design build, or best value competitive sealed bid, for example.
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