The Board supports economic development in Iowa, particularly in the District community. As permitted by law, purchasing preference will be given to Iowa goods and services from locally‐ owned businesses located within the 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. Other statutory purchasing preferences will be applied as provided by law, including goals with regard to procurement from certified targeted small businesses, minority‐owned businesses, and female owned businesses.
Prior to August 15 of each year and after analyzing the District’s anticipated procurement level for the current fiscal year, the Board will set a goal of ten percent of the anticipated procurement level to be purchased from certified targeted small businesses. In determining the procurement level, the cost of utilities (heat, electricity, telephone and natural gas) and employees’ costs will not be included. After the goal has been established, the superintendent will file the required Targeted Small Business Procurement form with the Department of Education by August 15.
By July 31 of each year, the superintendent will file a report with the Department of Education outlining purchases of goods and services from targeted small businesses for the previous fiscal year.
The Board and superintendent will encourage targeted small businesses which are not certified with the Department of Inspections and Appeals to become certified targeted small 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 District. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to approve purchases, except those requiring Board approval 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 $10,000.
- For goods and services costing at least $10,000 and up to $135,000, 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 $135,000, 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 may be based on the several 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.
Purchases using federal child nutrition funds shall be made in accordance with procurement procedures required by law. 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 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 District facility that exceed bidding and quotation thresholds, please refer to sample policy 802.3.
The superintendent may develop an administrative process to implement this policy.
Approved: May 4, 1990
Reviewed: February 8, 2016
Revised: June 12, 2017