Proposed Purchasing Ordinance Updates
Proposed Changes:
Increase threshold from $10,000 to $25,000
Proposing to increase the threshold for requirement of competitive bidding from $10K to 525K to align
with the threshold for Finance approval. For reference of comparison, the following are some other
municipal thresholds:
Concord $50K
Worcester MA S50K
Salem MA S35K
Manchester $25K
Exeter S25K
Salem NH $20K
Merrimack $10K
Londonderry $10K
The estimated maximum impact is:
PO’s between | % of Total # of
10K-25K PO's
2019 83 3.46%
2020 98 4.33%
2021 126 5.47%
3-year avg 102.3 4.42%
Note: many of these PO's are for items that would not qualify for competitive bidding in any case (ex.
software maintenance, purchases using municipal/state contract pricing, etc}
8. Notice inviting bids shall be posted in two appropriate places, one of which shall be on the City’s
Internet website or by publication in at least one official newspaper in the City and at least five days
preceding the last day set for the receipt of bids. The website or newspaper notice required herein shall
include a general description of the articles to be purchased or sold. The Manager shall also advertise all
pending purchases or sales by a notice posted on the public bulletin board in the City Hall.
[Amended 10-9-2012 by Ord. No. 0-12-022]
Proposed Change:
Change the requirement to publish bid invitations in newspapers. Update to include an online
publication/website.*
Proposing to utilize online publications where applicable in lieu of a printed newspaper for publishing bid
invitations. This would include oniine construction project tracking websites, online newspapers, and
professional organization websites to name a few. This would increase visibility with a greater
population now utilizing the internet for news than traditional printed newspapers.
This would not apply in instances where a newspaper notice is required to meet State or Federal
requirements.
BD. Sealed bids shall be submitted to the Manager and shall be identified as bids on the envelope. Bids
shall be opened in public at the same time and place stated in the public notices. A tabulation of all bids
received shall be available for public inspection. [Amended 10-9-2012 by Ord. No. O-12-022]
12/6/21 “where not mandated by state or federal requirements
