705.1 - Purchasing-Bidding

705.1 - Purchasing-Bidding

The board supports economic development in Iowa, particularly in the school district community. As permitted by law, purchasing preference will be given to Iowa goods and services from locally-owned businesses located within the school district or Iowa based companies if the cost and other considerations are relatively equal and meet the required specifications. However, when spending federal Child Nutrition Funds, geographical preference is allowed only for unprocessed agricultural food items as a part of response evaluation. Other statutory purchasing preferences will be applied as provided by law, including goals and reporting with regard to procurement from certified targeted small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and female owned businesses.

Goods and Services

The board shall enter into goods and services contract(s) as the board deems to be in the best interest of the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to approve purchases, except those requiring board approval as described below or as provided by in law. The superintendent may coordinate and combine purchases with other governmental bodies to take advantage of volume price breaks. Joint purchases with other political subdivisions will be considered in the purchase of equipment, accessories, or attachments with an estimated cost of $50,000 or more.

Purchases for goods and services shall conform to the following:

  • The superintendent shall have the authority to authorize purchases without prior board approval and without competitive request for proposals, quotations, or bids for goods and services up to $5,000.
  • For goods and services costing at least $5,001 and up to $60,000, the superintendent shall receive proposals, quotations, or bids for the goods and services to be purchased prior to board approval. The quotation process may be informal, and include written or unwritten quotations.
  • For goods and services exceeding, $60,000, the competitive request for proposal (RFP) or competitive bid process shall be used and received prior to board approval. RFPs and bids are formal, written submissions via sealed process.

In the event that only one quotation or bid is submitted, the board may proceed if the quotation or bid meets the contract award specifications.

The contract award shall be based on the total cost considerations including, but not limited to the following:

  • The cost of the goods and services being purchased;
  • Availability of service and/or repair;
  • The targeted small business procurement goal and other statutory purchasing preferences; and
  • Other factors deemed relevant by the board.

The board may elect to exempt certain professional services contracts from the thresholds and procedures outlined above.

The thresholds and procedures related to purchases of goods and services do not apply to public improvement projects.

Public Improvements

The board shall enter into public improvement contract(s) as the board deems to be in the best interest of the school district. ‘Public improvement’ means “a building or construction work which is constructed under the control of a governmental entity and for which either of the following applies: (1) has been paid for in whole or in part with funds of the governmental entity; (2) a commitment has been made prior to construction by the governmental entity to pay for the building or construction work in whole or in part with funds of the governmental entity. This includes a building or improvement constructed or operated jointly with any public or private agency.”

The district shall follow all requirements, timelines, and processes detailed in Iowa law related to public improvement projects. The thresholds regarding when competitive bidding or competitive quotations is required will be followed. Competitive bidding is required for public improvement contracts exceeding the minimum threshold stated in law. Competitive quotations are required for public improvement projects that exceed the minimum threshold amount stated in law, but do not exceed the minimum set for competitive bidding. The board shall approve competitive bids and competitive quotes. If the total cost of the public improvement does not warrant either competitive bidding or competitive quotations, the district may nevertheless proceed with either of these processes, if it so chooses.

The award of all contracts for the public improvement shall be awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. In the event of an emergency requiring repairs to a school district facility that exceed bidding and quotation thresholds, please refer CCSD’s policy 802.3 – Emergency Repairs to IASB sample policy 802.3 – Emergency Repairs.

The district shall comply with all federal and state laws and regulations required for procurement, including the selection and evaluation of contractors.  The superintendent or designee is responsible for developing an administrative process to implement this policy, including, but not limited to, procedures related to suspension and debarment for transactions subject to those requirements.

 

 

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 26; 28E; 72.3; 73; 73A; 285; 297; 301.
  
                                    261 I.A.C. 54.
   
                                   281 I.A.C. 43.25.

Cross Reference: 801.4   Site Acquisition
  
                                    802      Maintenance, Operation and Management
  
                                    802.3   Emergency Repairs
  
                                    803      Selling and Leasing

Initially Approved 03-08-1999                              
Last Reviewed 10-25-2023                                   
Last Revision 10-25-2023

 

dawn@iowaschoo… Mon, 09/14/2020 - 12:05

705.1R1 - Suspension and Debarment of Vendors and Contractors Procedure

705.1R1 - Suspension and Debarment of Vendors and Contractors Procedure

In connection with transactions subject to federal suspension and debarment requirements, the district is prohibited from entering into transactions with parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in federal assistance programs or activities.

When soliciting bids or otherwise preparing to enter into such a transaction, the superintendent or designee will use at least one of the following verification methods to ensure that any parties to the transaction are not suspended or debarred prior to committing to any sub-award, purchase, or contract:

(1)  Obtaining a certification of a party’s compliance with the federal suspension and debarment requirements in connection with any application, bid, or proposal;

(2)  Requiring compliance with the federal suspension and debarment requirements as an express condition of any sub-award, purchase, or contract in question; or

(3)  Prior to committing to any sub-award, purchase, or contract, check the online Federal System for Award Management at https://sam.gov/reports/awards/standard to determine whether the relevant party is subject to any suspension or debarment restrictions. 

 

2 CFR Part 200 Subpart B-General Provisions
200.113 Mandatory Disclosures

A non-Federal entity or applicant for a Federal award must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award. Non-Federal entities that have received a Federal award including the term and condition outlined in Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters are required to report certain civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings to SAM. Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in §200.338 Remedies for non-compliance, including suspension or debarment. (See also 2 CFR part 180, 31 U.S.C. 3321, and 41 U.S.C. 2313.) It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to timely report to the relevant federal or pass through agency any violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery or gratuity potentially impacting a federal grant.

dawn@iowaschoo… Mon, 09/14/2020 - 12:31

705.R2 - Using Federal Funds in Procurement Contracts

705.R2 - Using Federal Funds in Procurement Contracts

In addition to the District’s standard procurement and purchasing procedures, the following procedures for vendors/contractors paid with federal funds are required.  When federal, state, and local
requirements conflict, 
the most stringent requirement will be followed.

2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D Subsection §200.318 (c)(1) No District employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award and administration of contracts supported by a Federal award
if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest.  Such a conflict of interest 
would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner,
or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. 
District officers, employees, 
and agents may neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts.  However, for situations where
the financial interest is not substantial or the gift is an 
unsolicited item of nominal value, district employees must abide by all relevant board policies. Violation of this requirement may result in
disciplinary action for the District employee, officer, or agent.

2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D Subsection §200.320 (e)(1-4)
Procurement for contracts paid with federal funds may be conducted by noncompetitive (single source) proposals when one or more of the following circumstances apply: (1) the item is only
available from a single 
source; (2) public exigency or emergency will not permit the delay resulting from competitive bids; (3) the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity expressly
authorizes noncompetitive proposals in response to 
a written request from the non-Federal entity; or (4) after solicitation of a number of sources, competition is inadequate.

2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D Subsection §200.321
The District will take all necessary affirmative steps to assure that minority businesses, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when possible. Affirmative steps must
include: (1) placing 
such businesses on solicitation lists; (2) soliciting such businesses whenever they are potential sources; (3) when economically feasible, dividing contracts into smaller tasks or
quantities to allow participation from such 
businesses; (4) establishing delivery schedules that encourage participation by such businesses; (5) when appropriate, utilizing the Small Business
Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce; and (6) requiring the primary contractor to follow steps (1) through (5) when 
subcontractors are
used.

The district will include the following provisions in all procurement contracts or purchase orders include the following provisions when applicable:
2 CFR Part 200 Appendix II
(A) Contracts for more than the simplified acquisition threshold currently set at $150,000, which is the inflation adjusted amount determined by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the
Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) as authorized by 41 U.S.C. 1908, must address administrative, contractual, or legal remedies in instances where contractors violate or breach
contract terms, and provide for such sanctions and penalties as appropriate.

(B) All contracts in excess of $10,000 must address termination for cause and for convenience by the non-Federal entity including the manner by which it will be affected and the basis for settlement.

(C) Equal Employment Opportunity. Except as otherwise provided under 41 CFR Part 60, all contracts that meet the definition of “federally assisted construction contract” in 41 CFR Part 60-1.3
must include the equal opportunity clause provided under 41 CFR 60-1.4(b), in accordance with Executive Order 11246, “Equal Employment Opportunity” (30 FR 12319, 12935, 3 CFR Part,
1964-1965 Comp., p. 339), as amended by Executive Order 11375, “Amending Executive Order 11246 Relating to Equal Employment Opportunity,” and implementing regulations at 41 CFR
part 60, “Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Equal Employment Opportunity, Department of Labor.”

(D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities
must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, “Labor Standards
Provisions Applicable to Contracts  Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction”). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics
at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The
non-Federal entity must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be
conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. The contracts must also include
a provision for compliance with the Copeland “Anti-Kickback” Act (40 U.S.C. 3145), as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 3, “Contractors and Subcontractors on
Public Building or Public Work Financed in Whole or in Part by Loans or Grants from the United States”). The Act provides that each contractor or subrecipient must be prohibited from inducing,
by any means, any person employed in the construction, completion, or repair of public work, to give up any part of the compensation to which he or she is otherwise entitled. The non-Federal
entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency.

(E) Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 3701-3708). Where applicable, all contracts  awarded by the non-Federal entity in excess of $100,000 that involve the employment
of mechanics or laborers must include a provision for compliance with 40 U.S.C. 3702 and 3704, as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5). Under 40 U.S.C. 3702 of
the Act, each contractor must be required to compute the wages of every mechanic and laborer on the basis of a standard work week of 40 hours. Work in excess of the standard work week is
permissible provided that the worker is compensated at a rate of not less than one and a half times the basic rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in the work week. The
requirements of 40 U.S.C. 3704 are applicable to construction work and provide that no laborer or mechanic  must be required to work in surroundings or under working conditions which are
unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous. These requirements do not apply to the purchases of supplies or materials or articles ordinarily available on the open market, or contracts for transportation
or transmission of intelligence.

(F) Rights to Inventions Made Under a Contract or Agreement. If the Federal award meets the definition of “funding agreement” under 37 CFR §401.2 (a) and the recipient or subrecipient wishes
to enter into a contract with a small business firm or nonprofit organization regarding the substitution of parties, assignment or performance of experimental, developmental, or research work
under that “funding agreement,” the recipient or subrecipient must comply with the requirements of 37 CFR Part 401, “Rights to Inventions Made by
Nonprofit Organizations and Small Business Firms Under Government Grants, Contracts and Cooperative  Agreements,” and any implementing regulations issued by the awarding agency.

(G) Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251-1387), as amended—Contracts and subgrants of amounts in excess of $150,000 must
contain a provision that requires the non-Federal award to agree to comply with all applicable standards, orders or regulations issued pursuant to the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q) and
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251-1387). Violations must be reported to the Federal awarding agency and the Regional Office of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).

(H) Debarment and Suspension (Executive Orders 12549 and 12689)—A contract award (see 2 CFR 180.220) must not be made to parties listed on the government wide exclusions in the System
for Award Management (SAM), in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR part 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR part 1989
Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” SAM Exclusions contains the names of parties debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded by agencies, as well as parties declared ineligible under
statutory or regulatory authority other than Executive Order 12549.

(I) Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352)—Contractors that apply or bid for an award exceeding $100,000 must file the required certification. Each tier certifies to the tier above that it will not and has
not used Federal appropriated funds to pay any person or organization for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, officer or employee of Congress, or
an employee of a member of Congress in connection with obtaining any Federal contract, grant or any other award covered by 31 U.S.C. 1352. Each tier must also disclose any lobbying with non-Federal funds that
takes place in connection with obtaining any Federal award. Such disclosures are forwarded from tier to tier up to the non-Federal award.

(J) See §200.322 Procurement of recovered materials.

§200.216 Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment

(a) The district is prohibited from obligating or expending loan or grant funds to:

      1. Procure or obtain;

      2. Extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; or

      3. Enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to procure or obtain equipment, services, or systems

          that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. As described in Public law 115-232, section 889, covered telecommunications equipment is telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).

           i. For purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunication equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).

           ii. Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment

           iii. Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the National Intelligence of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned by or controlled by, or otherwise connect to, the government of a foreign country.

(b) In implementing the prohibition under Public Law 115-332, section 889, subsection (f), paragraph (l), heads of
     executive agencies administering loan, grant or subsidy programs shall prioritize available funding and technical
     support to assist affected businesses, institutions and organizations as is reasonably necessary for those affected
     entities to transition from covered communications equipment and services, to procure replacement equipment
     and services, and to ensure that communications service e to users and customers is sustained.

(c) See Public Law 115-232, section 889 for additional information

(d) See also §200.471.

nmckinnon@clar… Tue, 02/16/2021 - 13:57