The manager or designee is granted authority to award any contract, lease or purchase of personal property except as otherwise provided in this chapter and the county charter, involving less than $10,000, sales tax not included, without advertisement and without a solicitation process. On contracts, leases, or purchases valued from at least $10,000 to less than $50,000, sales tax not included, the manager or designee shall be responsible for soliciting telephone and/or written quotations from at least three vendors whenever possible to assure establishment of a competitive price and for awarding such contracts for purchase of supplies, equipment, and materials to the lowest responsible bidder. Immediately after award is made, the bid quotations obtained shall be open to public inspection or telephone inquiry. At least twice per year, the county shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction a notice of the existence of a vendor reference list and solicit vendor names for the list. The division will prepare specifications and post notice of intent to purchase upon its website for not less than three working days prior to making any such contract or purchase, except that the period of posting may be waived by the manager. A contract pursuant to this section less than $50,000 in value need not be advertised. The county executive may waive the requirements of advertisement and competitive bidding for materials and labor to repair or restore any county motor vehicle, trailer, or other equipment to an operable or usable condition, or for labor, or materials required to prevent imminent and material injury or damage to the public or property of the county.

Purchase transactions for materials, supplies, and equipment valued at $50,000 or more shall be formally bid and advertised. Such advertisement shall be published in the official county newspaper at least once, at least 13 days prior to the last date upon which bids will be received.

Purchases of supplies, materials and equipment valued at less than $10,000 may be approved by the manager, the head of any executive department, and any county official as defined by SCC 3.04.005(4).

Options to extend performance in contracts to purchase materials, supplies, and equipment may be exercised by the manager with the concurrence of the county official or department head involved.

The county council may exercise its discretion to use the competitive thresholds set forth in this section or, if higher, those set forth in RCW 36.32.245. (Added by Ord. 80-110 § 2, Jan. 20, 1981; Amended by Ord. 86-003 § 19, Feb. 12, 1986; Amended by Ord. 89-027 § 18, May 17, 1989; Amended by Ord. 92-085, Aug. 12, 1992; Amended by Ord. 07-078, Sept. 5, 2007, Eff date Sept. 21, 2007; Amended by Ord. 13-040, June 12, 2013, Eff date June 24, 2013; Amended by Amended Ord. 23-074 § 13, Sept. 13, 2023, Eff date Oct. 1, 2023).