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Purchasing Procedures - The Bidding Process

The school district encourages vendors to solicit business with the Andrews schools. The district purchases goods and services under the guidelines of Senate Bill One.

 

Purchasing Contracts (SB-1:  Section 44.031)

 

Except as provided by this section, all school district contracts, except for the purchase of produce or vehicle fuel, valued at $25,000 or more in the aggregate for each 12-month period shall be made by the method, of the following methods, that provides the best value to the district;

  1. competitive bidding
  2. competitive sealed proposals
  3. a request for proposals
  4. a catalogue purchase as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 2175, Government Code;
  5. an interlocal contract; or
  6. a design/build contract
In determining to whom to award a contract, the district may consider:
  1. the purchase price;
  2. the reputation of the vendor and the vendor's goods or services;
  3. the quality of the vendor's goods and services;
  4. the extent to which the goods or services meet the district's needs;
  5. the vendor's past relationship with the district;
  6. the impact on the ability of the district to comply with laws and rules relating to historically underutilized businesses;
  7. the long-term cost to the district to acquire the vendor's good and services; and
  8. any other relevant factor that a private business entity would consider in selecting a vendor.

 

Other information 

Other information pertaining to purchasing goods and services:

 

  • The state auditor may audit purchases of goods and services by the district.
  • The district may adopt rules and procedures for the acquisition of goods or services.
  • This section of the law does not apply to fees received for professional services rendered, including architect's fees, attorney's fees, and fees for fiscal agents.
  • Notice of the time by when and place where bids or proposals will be received shall be published in the county in which the district's central administrative offices are located, once a week for at least two weeks before the date set for awarding the contract, except that on contracts involving less that $25,000, the advertising may be limited to two successive issues of any newspaper published in the county in which the district's administrative offices are located.
  • If school equipment is destroyed or severely damaged, and the board of trustees determines that the delay posed by the competitive process would prevent or substantially impair the conducting of classes or other essential school activities, then the contracts for the replacement or repair of the equipment may be made without the competitive bidding process.
  • The board of trustees of a school district may acquire computers and computer-related equipment, including computer software, through the General Services Commission under contracts entered into in accordance with Chapter 2157 of Government Code.  Before issuing an invitation for bids, the commission shall consult with the agency concerning the computer and computer-related equipment needs of the districts.  To the extent possible the resulting contract shall provide for such needs.
  • The board of trustees may purchase an item that is available from only one source including:
    1. an item for which competition is precluded because of the existence of a patent, copyright, secret process, or      
    2. monopoly.
    3. a film or manuscript, or book.
    4. a utility service, including electricity, gas, or water, and
    5. a captive replacement part or component for equipment.
  • The exceptions to not apply to mainframe data-processing equipment and peripheral attachments with a single-item purchase price in excess of $15,000.
  • Each contract proposed by the board of trustees for the purchase or lease of one or more school buses, including a lease with option to purchase, must be submitted to competitive bidding when the contract is valued at $20,000 or more.
  • Under current purchasing guidelines of Senate Bill One, school administrators, office managers, and purchasing agents have more freedom and local control that ever before to make purchases of goods and services that are in the best interest of the school district.