[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Aldermen
(now City Council) of the City of Chicopee as indicated in article
histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-16-2010 by Ord. No. 10-01[1]]
A.
This
article is an ordinance establishing a Department of Purchases in
the administrative service of the City of Chicopee, creating the office
of City Purchasing Agent, setting forth the powers and duties of the
City Purchasing Agent, establishing purchasing procedures and prescribing
penalties for the violation of its provisions.
B.
This
article shall be known and may be cited as the "Purchasing Ordinance
of the City of Chicopee."
A.
There is hereby established in the administrative service of the
City of Chicopee the Department of Purchases and, in said Department,
the office of City Purchasing Agent.
B.
The City shall comply with MGL Chapter 30B, as it may hereafter be
amended, in the procurement and surplus disposition of those items
to which said law applies, including the acquisition and disposition
of real estate. Procurement and surplus disposition of items not subject
to MGL Chapter 30B shall be undertaken in accordance with the applicable
statutes within which they fall, including MGL c. 30, § 39M,
MGL Chapter 149 and MGL c. 7, §§ 38A 1/2 to 38O.
C.
The City shall exercise sound business practices for all purchases.
A.
Duties. The City Purchasing Agent shall be the head and shall have
general supervision of the Department of Purchases. He shall have
all the powers and duties prescribed by this chapter. The City Purchasing
Agent shall be the Chief Procurement Officer for the City as required
by MGL Chapter 30B.
B.
Specifications.
(1)
Appointment. The Purchasing Agent shall be appointed by the Mayor.
(2)
Term of office. The term of office shall expire January 1, 1975.
Subsequent terms of office shall be for a period of six years.
(3)
Experience requirements. The Purchasing Agent shall have had, prior
to his appointment, at least five years' experience in purchasing
in a position of major responsibility such as purchasing agent, assistant
purchasing agent, buyer or similar grade with public or business enterprises
which operate on justified requisitions based on store control with
perpetual inventories of stock on hand. He shall also have had a bachelor's
degree from a four-year accredited college or university, preferably
with a major in business administration, economics, commerce or some
field of business.
(4)
In the absence, inability to serve, removal, resignation or death
of the Purchasing Agent, the Mayor shall designate the person who
shall carry out the duties of the Purchasing Agent until his return
or until his successor shall have been appointed, such appointment
to be for the unexpired term of the Purchasing Agent.
(5)
Bond. The City Purchasing Agent shall furnish bond for the faithful
performance of his duties in a sum to be determined by the Mayor.
(6)
Additional employees.
(a)
There shall be established additional employees of the Central
Purchasing Agency as follows:
[1]
One senior clerical assistant who shall be appointed by the
Mayor and whose term of office shall be for a period of four years.
[2]
There may be two additional clerical assistants.
[3]
One Assistant Purchasing Agent who shall be appointed by the
Mayor for a term of five years and shall furnish bond for the faithful
performance of his duties in a sum to be determined by the Mayor.
The Assistant Purchasing Agent shall be under the direct supervision
of the Purchasing Agent. He shall have at least two years' experience
in purchasing with either public or private enterprises.
(b)
The persons employed in the positions described herein shall
be under the direct supervision of the Purchasing Agent.
C.
Powers and duties of Purchasing Agent.
(1)
Be responsible for the procurement and disposal of all supplies,
materials, equipment and property for all departments and offices
of the City, including contracts for construction, reconstruction
or alteration of City buildings or property and any services incident
thereto and all laws covered under the Uniform Procurement Act, MGL
c. 30, § 39M, MGL Chapter 30B, MGL c. 7, §§ 38A
1/2 to 38O and MGL Chapter 149. It shall be the responsibility of
the Purchasing Agent to assure that all procurements subject to these
statutes are conducted in accordance therewith.
(a)
Have authority to order or make inventories of the supplies,
materials, equipment and furnishings of any department. Any department
possessing excess or surplus personal property of any kind shall not
sell, exchange, transfer or dispose thereof without first certifying
such personal property as surplus to the Purchasing Agent; and, thereupon,
the Purchasing Agent shall circularize all departments as to their
needs for such surplus personal property, and if such need is determined,
the Purchasing Agent may order transfer of such property from one
department to another.
(b)
If the value of property to be disposed of is estimated to be
more than $5,000, the Purchasing Department shall advertise for bids
in a daily paper having a general circulation in the City for at least
two consecutive weeks and shall award the sale of such property to
the highest responsible bidder. If it is in the best interest of the
City, the Purchasing Agent may reject any and all bids. When the value
of the property to be sold is less than $5,000, the Purchasing Agent
may, without advertising, dispose of the property in the best manner,
using sound business practices.
(c)
All disposition of surplus property shall first be subject to
a vote of the City Property Committee prior to the Purchasing Agent
acting thereupon.
(2)
Encouraging competitions. He shall discourage uniform bidding and
endeavor to obtain as full and open competition as possible on all
purchases and sales.
(3)
Rules and regulations. He shall establish reasonable regulations
and policies, not inconsistent with the statutes and this article
to carry out the duties of the office.
(4)
Purchasing analysis. He shall keep informed of current developments
in the field of purchasing, prices, market conditions and new products
and secure for the City the benefits of research done in the field
of purchasing by the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General.
(5)
Forms. He shall prescribe and maintain such forms as he shall find
reasonably necessary to the operation of this chapter, provided that
all such forms shall have the approval of the City Auditor prior to
their enforcement.
(6)
Standard nomenclature. He shall prepare and adopt a standard purchasing
nomenclature for using agencies and suppliers.
(7)
Vendors' catalog file. He shall prepare, adopt and maintain
a vendors' catalog file. Said catalog shall be filed according
to materials and shall contain descriptions of vendors' commodities,
prices and discounts.
(8)
Bulk purchase. He shall explore the possibilities of buying in bulk
so as to take full advantage of discounts.
(9)
Federal tax exemptions. He shall act so as to procure for the City
all federal tax exemptions to which it is entitled.
(10)
Cooperation with Auditing Department. He shall cooperate with the
City Auditor so as to secure the maximum efficiency in budgeting and
accounting.
(11)
Disqualification of bidders. He shall have the authority, with the
concurrence of the Mayor, to declare vendors who default on their
quotations irresponsible bidders and to disqualify them from receiving
any business from the municipality for a stated period of time.
Except as herein provided or as may be specifically authorized
by the Purchasing Agent or as specifically exempt under provisions
of the laws of the commonwealth, it shall be unlawful for any City
employee or official to purchase any supplies or services other than
through the Purchasing Department and in accordance with this chapter.
A.
There is hereby established in the administrative service of the
City of Chicopee a standardization and specification process.
B.
Process. In cooperation with the relevant department heads or their
designees, the Purchasing Agent shall establish standards and specifications
for the City of Chicopee.
C.
Duties of Purchasing Agent. It shall be the duty of the Purchasing
Agent:
(1)
Classification: to classify all the supplies used by the various
branches of the City government.
(2)
Standardization: to establish as standards the minimum number of
quantity, sizes and varieties of supplies consistent with the successful
operation of the City government.
(3)
Specifications: to assist in the preparation and approve all written
specifications.
(4)
Circulation: to make available to any interested party copies of
such classifications, standardizations and specifications.
D.
Effect of establishment. After its establishment, each standard specification
shall, until revised, apply alike in terms and effect to every future
purchase and contract for the supply described in such specifications;
however, the Agent shall have the authority to exempt any using agency
of the City if requested to do so for a valid purpose, in writing,
by the head of the using agency.
E.
Consultation with using agencies. The Agent shall consult with heads
and other officials of the using agencies to determine their precise
requirements and shall endeavor to prescribe those standards which
meet the needs of the majority of such agencies.
F.
Nature of specifications. All specifications shall be definite and
certain and shall permit competition; provided, however, that the
provisions of this subsection shall not apply to noncompetitive types
and kinds of supplies.
A.
The provisions of the Conflict of Interest Statute, MGL c. 268A, and Section 59 of the City Charter of the City of Chicopee shall prevail in matters pertaining to the conduct of City employees.
B.
Gifts
and gratuities. The Purchasing Agent and every officer and employee
of the City are expressly prohibited from accepting, directly or indirectly,
from any person, firm, corporation or organization to which any purchase
order or contract is or might be awarded any rebate, gift or anything
of value whatsoever, except where given for the use or benefit of
the City of Chicopee.
This section shall apply to all vertical construction projects
awarded by the City of Chicopee.
A.
The
general contractor and all subcontractors under the general contractor
shall make a good faith effort to employ local workers when qualified
local workers are available for work.
B.
The
general contractor and all subcontractors under the general contractor
must comply with the obligations established under MGL c. 149 to pay
the appropriate lawful prevailing wage rates to their employees.
C.
The general contractor and all subcontractors under the general contractor
must maintain appropriate industrial accident insurance coverage for
all the employees on the project in accordance with MGL c. 152.
D.
The general contractor and all subcontractors under the general contractor
must properly classify employees as employees rather than independent
contractors and treat them accordingly for purposes of workers'
compensation insurance coverage, unemployment taxes, social security
taxes, and income tax withholding. (See MGL c. 149, § 148B,
on employee classification.)
E.
Bids submitted by all general contractors and subcontractors whose
total bid exceeds $2,000,000 and all subcontractors whose total filed
sub bid under MGL c. 149, § 44F, exceeds $500,000 shall
at the time of bidding maintain or participate in a bona fide apprentice
training program as defined by MGL c. 23, §§ 11H and
11I for each apprenticeable trade or occupation represented in their
workforce that is approved by the Division of Apprentice Training
of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development ("Division")
and must register all apprentices with the Division and abide by the
apprentice to journeyman ratio for each trade prescribed therein in
the performance of any work on the project. All general contractors
and subcontractors shall provide a certificate of compliance from
the Division as part of their bid submittal and periodically thereafter
as determined by the City of Chicopee.
F.
The general contractor and all subcontractors under the general contractor
must at the time of bidding certify that all employees to be employed
at the worksite will have successfully completed a course in construction
safety and health approved by the United States Occupational Safety
and Health Administration at the time the employee begins work. The
general contractor and all subcontractors shall furnish documentation
of successful completion at the time the employee begins work.
G.
The general contractor and all subcontractors under the general contractor
must at the time of bidding and throughout the duration of the construction
contract furnish, at their expense, hospitalization and medical coverage
for all their workers at a level not less than that available through
the Massachusetts Health Care Connector. For purposes of this hospitalization
and medical coverage requirement, a general contractor or subcontractor
may satisfy this requirement by providing proof acceptable to the
City of Chicopee that any or all of their workers are a covered person
under a medical and hospitalization plan provided by a parent, spouse,
partner or otherwise with coverage at a level not less than that available
through the Massachusetts Health Care Connector.
H.
All general contractor and subcontractors under the general contractor
who are awarded or who otherwise obtain construction contracts with
the City of Chicopee shall comply with all of the above detailed obligation
at the commencement of the contract and throughout full contract period.
I.
Any general contractor or subcontractor under the general contractor
who fails to comply with the obligation detailed above shall be subject
to any one or more of the following sanctions as determined by the
Building Commission and Purchasing Agent with the concurrence of the
Mayor:
(1)
Cessation of work on the project until compliance is obtained;
(2)
Withholding of payment due under any contract or subcontract until
compliance is obtained;
(3)
Permanent removal from any further work on the project;
(4)
Liquidated damages payable to the City of Chicopee in the amount
of 5% of the dollar value of the contract.
J.
If any provision of this article, or the application of such provision
to any person, entity or circumstances, shall be enjoined or held
to be invalid, the remaining provisions of this section, or the application
of such section to persons or circumstances, other than that which
is enjoined or held invalid shall be not affected thereby.
A.
The City of Chicopee shall conform to state standards in all bidding processes to conform to state statute MGL c. 30B, §§ 4, 5, 6 and 7, to allow for procurement contracts up to $25,000 to be made without the requirement for formal, advertised bidding, but do require three written quotations from at least three suppliers.
B.
Every contract shall provide that an item equal to that named or
described in said specifications may be furnished. An item shall be
considered equal to the item so named or described if it is at least
equal in quality, durability, appearance, strength and design; it
will perform at least equally the function imposed by the general
design for the work being contracted for or material being purchased;
and it conforms substantially, even with deviations, to the detailed
requirements for the item in said specification.
C.
Bidders' list. The Agent shall also solicit sealed bids from
all responsible prospective suppliers who have requested their names
to be added to a bidders' list, which the Agent shall maintain,
by sending them a copy of such newspaper notice or such notice as
will acquaint them with the proposed purchase or sale. In any case,
invitation sent to the vendors on the bidders' list shall be
limited to commodities that are similar in character and ordinarily
handled by the trade group to which the invitations are sent.
D.
Bid deposits. When deemed necessary by the Agent, bid deposits shall
be prescribed in the public notices inviting bids. Unsuccessful bidders
shall be entitled to return of surety where the Agent has required
such. A successful bidder shall forfeit any surety required by the
Agent upon failure on his part to enter a contract within 30 days
after the award. All such bid deposits or other security shall be
deposited with the City Treasurer.
E.
Bid opening procedure.
F.
Rejection of bids.
(1)
The Agent shall have the authority to reject all bids, parts of all
bids or all bids for any one or more supplies or contractual services
included in the proposed contract when the public interest will be
served thereby.
(2)
Bidders in default to City. The Purchasing Agent, with the concurrence
of the Mayor, may not accept the bid of a contractor who is in default
on the payment of taxes, licenses or other moneys due the City.
G.
Award of contract.
(1)
Authority of Purchasing Agent. The Agent shall have the authority
to award contracts within the purview of this chapter.
(2)
Lowest responsible bidder. Contracts shall be awarded to the lowest
responsible bidder. In determining the lowest responsible bidder,
in addition to price, the Purchasing Agent shall consider:
(a)
The ability, capacity and skill of the bidder to perform the
contract or provide the service required.
(b)
Whether the bidder can perform the service required and provide
the service promptly or within the time specified, without delay or
interference.
(c)
The character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience and
efficiency of the bidder.
(d)
The quality of performance of previous contracts or services.
(e)
The previous and existing compliance by the bidder with laws
and ordinances relating to the contract or service.
(f)
The sufficiency of the financial resources and ability of the
bidder to perform the contract or provide the service.
(g)
The quality, availability and adaptability of the supplies or
contractual services to the particular use required.
(h)
The ability of the bidder to provide future maintenance and
service for the use of the subject of the contract.
(i)
The number and scope of conditions attached to the bid.
(3)
Award to other than low bidder. When the award is not given to the
lowest bidder, a full and complete statement of the reason for placing
the order elsewhere shall be prepared by the Purchasing Agent and
filed with the other papers relating to the transaction.
(4)
Tie bids.
(a)
Local vendors. If all bids received are for the same total amount
or unit price, quality and service being equal, the contract shall
be awarded to a local bidder.
(5)
Performance bonds. The Purchasing Agent shall recommend to the Mayor
the requirement for a performance bond, in accordance with the provisions
of the City Charter of the City of Chicopee.
H.
Prohibition against subdivision. No contract or purchase shall be
subdivided to avoid the requirements of this section.
The Purchasing Agent shall have the authority to join other
units of government (federal, state, county, municipal and municipal
subdivisions, including such quasi-municipal agencies as water districts,
sewer districts, etc.) in cooperative purchasing plans when the best
interest of the City would be served thereby and such action is in
accordance with and pursuant to law.
The Purchasing Agent shall perform such other duties related
to the functions, duties and authorities set forth herein as may be
prescribed by the Mayor or any applicable state or local laws and
ordinances.
The City Purchasing Agent shall submit to the Mayor and the
City Council an annual report on the work of his office in carrying
out the provisions of this article.