Management Support

PURCHASING:  AUTHORIZATION AND CONTROL

 

 

Policy No. 6210

A.     The superintendent is authorized to direct expenditures and purchases within the limits of the detailed annual budget for the school year.

B.     Superintendent/designee approval for purchase of capital outlay items is required when the aggregate total of a requisition exceeds three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) where formal building procedures are not required by law.

C.     The superintendent shall establish requisition and purchase order procedures as a means of monitoring the expenditure of funds. Staff, who obligate the district without proper prior authorization may be held personally responsible for payment of such obligations.

D.     Purchases shall be made available through state contracts whenever such purchases are in the best interest of the district.

E.      Procurement of Federally Funded Services

1.         Federal funding requirements permit grantees and sub-grantees to use their established procurement procedures providing they conform to a) applicable state and local statutes and regulations, and b) to applicable federal law and standards.

2.         The State of Washington has not provided state laws or regulations governing the procurement of services.

3.         Washington State public school districts, educational service districts (ESDs), and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) are considered partners in the Washington K-12 Education System (System). Washington State and federal law both a) encourage and authorize the use of intergovernmental transactions as an economically responsible alternative to competitive procurements from private providers, and b) reflect a presumption that intergovernmental agreements result in the most efficient and effective use of public funds (RCW 39.34.010 and 34 CFR 80.36(b)(5)).

4.         Federal 34 CFR Part 80.36(d)(1) permits “small purchase procedures” for purchases less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Specifically, it notes, the “simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C. 403(11) (currently set at $100,000) require sealed bids.”

5.         In the absence of any state law over the procurement of professional services and books, the State Auditors Office has agreed to instruct its auditors to select federally funded transactions above three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) when testing for competitive solicitation.

6.         Every federally funded purchase of services or books (note- RCW 28A.335.190 provides lower limits relative to furniture and equipment), other than those between component members of the system, shall be on a competitive basis dependent on the following procurement limits:

1.         Competitive procurement is in effect for any federally funded services or books with a cost estimated to be in excess of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00).

2.         Whenever the estimated cost is from three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the procedure shall require solicitation of competitive quotes from responsible vendors.

3.         Whenever the estimated cost is in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), a public bidding process established by the Superintendent shall be followed.

7)   Competitive procurement procedures for services may be waived in the following instances. When such waivers are implemented a) the Superintendent shall be notified, and b) the factual basis for the exception must be recorded and filed with the District’s business office.

A)  Purchases that are clearly and legitimately limited to a single source of supply.

B)  Purchases involving special facilities or market conditions.

C)  Purchases, including public works, in the event of an emergency.

D)  Purchases of insurance or bonds.

E)  Other events so determined by the Superintendent.

8)    If an emergency exists, the Superintendent, or his/her designee, may declare an emergency situation exists, waive competitive bidding requirements, and award all necessary contracts on behalf of the District to address the emergency situation. For purposes of this section “emergency” means unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the District that either a) present a real, immediate threat to the proper performance of essential functions, or b) will likely result in material loss or damage to property, bodily injury, or loss of life if immediate action is not taken.

                                   

 

Cross Reference:          Board Policy 6220                   Bid Requirements

Legal Reference:         RCW 28A.335.190                   Advertising for bids — Competitive bid Procedures

                                    34 CFR 80.36                          Federal Procurement

OMB Circular No. A-102       Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments

            RCW 28A.155.160                 District authority to contract with

                                                                approved agencies — Approval  standards

             RCW 28A.225.250                 Assistive devices and services — Interagency cooperative agreements — Definitions

                                     RCW 28A.310.200                   ESD board — Powers and duties — Rules                                          

          RCW 28A.320.035                  Contracting out — Board's powers and duties — Goods and services

                                         RCW 28A.335.190                   Advertising for bids— Competitive bid procedure —Purchases from  

                                                                                            inmate work programs —Telephone or written quotation solicitation,

                             limitations —  Emergencies                         

                                          RCW 39.34.030                      Joint powers — Agreements for joint or cooperative action, requisites,

                                                                                          effect on responsibilities of component agencies —Financing of joint    projects                        

 

                                          RCW 39.34.080                     Contracts to perform governmental activities which each contracting                                                agency is authorized to perform

                                                                       

 

 

Revised:  December 18, 2008

Adopted:  June 23, 2008

Blaine School District

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