Supplies, Equipment, and Non-Construction Projects
The purchasing thresholds for comparative quotes are based on the unit price or on the aggregate total of the items requisitioned. District policy 1 grants the purchasing department discretionary authority to obtain quotes as necessary if determined to be in the best interest of Los Rios.
| Bid Type | Project Cost | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| None | $999 or less | No requirement |
| RFQ | $1,000 to $4,999 | Three informal quotes from vendors or market research |
| RFQ | $5,000 to $96,699 | Three written quotes submitted on vendor letterhead or email |
| RFP/Formal Bid | $96,700 2 or more | Requires purchasing coordination, advertisement, and sealed bids. This dollar amount is based on duration of the contract: no more than three years for supply items; no more than five years for services. 3 |
Small Business Exception
For non-construction projects (goods, equipment, materials, services, and so on) costing between $5,000 and $250,000, the requirement for bids from businesses certified as Small Business Enterprise (SBE) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) is two written quotes. 4