BIDDING REQUIREMENTS

All purchases of materials and equipment and all contracts for construction, or maintenance, or services in amounts exceeding $25,000 will be based upon competitive bidding.

An effort will be made to procure multiple bids or quotations for all purchases in excess of $5,000. When recommending the acceptance of a bid, or a quotation, the school business administrator will inform the School Superintendent and the School Committee of the competitive price of a substitute for the item specified.

When bidding procedures are used, bids will be advertised appropriately. Suppliers will be invited to have their names place on mailing lists to receive invitations to bid. When specifications are prepared, they will be mailed to all merchants and vendors who have indicated an interest in bidding.

All bids will be submitted in sealed envelopes, addressed to the City Purchasing Agent and plainly marked with the name of the bid and the time of the bid opening. Bids will be opened in public at the time specified, and all bidders will be invited to be present.

The School Committee reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to accept the bid that appears to be in the best interest of the school system. The School Committee reserves the right to waive any informality in, or reject any or all bids or any part of any bid. Any bid may be withdrawn prior to the scheduled time for the opening of the bids. Any bid received after the time and date specified will not be considered. All bids will remain firm for a period of 30 days after opening.

The bidder to whom an award is made will be required to enter in to a written contract with the City of Gardner.

File: DJE

[Adopted: 10/26/98]

[Revised: December 2002]

LEGAL REFS: M.G.L. 7:22A; 7:22B; 30B