Policy 3610

Periodic Audit

Purchasing

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board
Last Revision
Original publish date: 01/26/2010
Related policies & regulations:  
Legal references:  

  

The Lincoln Board of Education declares its intention to purchase competitively whenever possible.

 

Good working relations with vendors who provide materials, supplies and services to the District are desirable.  Constructive efforts by the administration to seek the advice and counsel of vendors about how to improve such relationships are encouraged.  If comparable quotes of equal quality are received, preference shall go to the local vendor, that is, Lincoln first, then Nebraska.

 

Recommended purchases or contracts in excess of $40,000 will be presented to the Board for approval except as otherwise provided by policy or specific Board actions.  The Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs is hereby delegated full power and authority to approve recommended purchases and/or sign contracts for and on behalf of the District that are consistent with the District’s spending plan and budget that are under $40,000 without Board approval.  The Director of Purchasing or designee is also hereby delegated full power and authority to approve recommended purchases and/or sign contracts for and on behalf of the District that are consistent with the District’s spending plan and budget that are under $10,000 without Board approval.

 

Purchase orders will be written solely under the direction of the Director of Purchasing.

 

The process and procedure of purchasing professional services for the District will be determined in the sole discretion of the Board from time to time.

 

Quality/Quantity Purchasing

 

Items to be purchased shall be at a specified quality level selected to meet the instructional or operational requirements of the District.

 

Consideration of a higher quality level shall include:

  1. Use of products on trial basis.
  2. Regard for extended life expectancy of the product.
  3. Preference for products having a more trouble-free nature that would result in lower per-year cost of ownership.
  4. The establishment of a District standard which reduces cost of support, maintenance and parts.

All recommendations shall be made after consideration and consultation with the personnel requesting the goods and services.

 

The administration is encouraged to purchase supplies, equipment and materials in quantity to take advantage of volume pricing and to save on freight costs.

 

Factors to be considered in consolidating like items for purchase in lot quantities shall include:

  1. Price advantages to be recognized on basic purchasing quantities.
  2. Savings on shipping costs.
  3. Savings on avoiding costs of frequent repetitive purchases.
  4. Cost of investments in inventory.
  5. Cost of warehouse space and personnel.

For any company that submits a bid or proposal for any technology-related product or service, and before entering into any contract with any company for any technology-related product or service, the company must certify that: (1) the company is not a scrutinized company (as defined by law); (2) the company will not subcontract with any scrutinized company for any aspect of performance of the contemplated contract; and (3) any products or services to be provided do not originate with a scrutinized company. The District will not knowingly enter into any contract with any scrutinized company.

 

Encumbering Funds

 

Funds of the District are encumbered upon issuance of a purchase order or other written agreement as authorized by the Board.

 

Contracts and Contract Authority

 

In accordance with Policy 3140, the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs is authorized to sign documents in the exercise of the necessary course of business activities.