Competitive Sealed Bids
Competitive Sealed Bids is used for construction, the cost of which is estimated to exceed $25,000, and for all other products and services, the cost of which is estimated to exceed $30,000. This is the preferred method of selection for larger purchases when the end product or result can be adequately defined and specified.
Request for Proposal
Request for Proposal is used for products and services when the end product cannot be adequately defined or specified or where factors other than the product or service need to be considered.
Small Purchase
Small Purchase is used for all purchases the estimated cost of which is below the amounts stated for competitive sealed bids. The majority of purchase orders are issued under this method. However, only about 20% of the dollars are spent using this method. Written quotations, telephone quotations, catalog prices with discounts and other similar methods are also used to select vendors under this method.
Sole Source
Sole Source is used when competition does not exist for the required product or service. This may be the case where a product is patented and no other product exists that offers equal performance.
Purchasing Card
The Purchasing Card is a tool for agency employees to make low-dollar purchases (typically under $500) for official agency business needs.
Emergency Procurement: This method is used only when an emergency exists - where life or property is in eminent danger.
