A. Formal Advertisement Required. Except as otherwise authorized in Chapters 39.04 and 39.28 RCW or RCW 35.23.352, relating to emergency public works, or other applicable general state law, as now enacted or as hereafter amended, all public work and improvements shall be done by contract pursuant to public notice and call for competitive bids whenever the estimated cost of such public work or improvement, including the cost of materials, supplies, equipment and labor, will exceed the limits for competitive bid as stated in RCW 35.23.352 as now enacted or as hereafter amended, provided the city may use a small works roster pursuant to RCW 35.23.352. The breaking of any project into units or accomplishing any projects by phases is prohibited if it is done for the purpose of avoiding the maximum dollar amount of a contract that may be let using the small works roster process.

Where formal bidding is required, a call for bids shall be issued in accordance with the provisions herein before any contract is let for the performance of any public work.

B. Formal Advertising Procedures. For projects requiring formal advertisement per this section, a notice of a call for bids, stating the nature of the contract to be let and the time on or before which sealed bids for the same must be filed with the city clerk, shall be given by posting notice thereof on the bulletin board in the lobby of City Hall. The notice shall also be published in the official newspaper, and a newspaper of general circulation most likely to bring responsive bids, at least 13 days prior to the last date upon which bids will be received. The notice shall generally state the nature of the work to be done, where the plans and specifications may be seen or obtained, and a specified hour and date when such bids shall be opened, and that the sealed bids be filed with the city clerk within the time specified therein. The clock within the city clerk’s office shall be the official time used for determining receipt of bids.

C. Council Approval. Issuance of solicitations for bids shall require city council consent approval unless the solicitation is for a project identified in the city’s current approved budget at the time of bid solicitation or if the estimated contract amount is within the budget authority of the mayor as provided in Chapter 3.10 ACC.

D. For the purposes of determining whether or not bidding contractors must declare the names of subcontractors for certain work based on the amount of the contractor’s expected costs per RCW 39.30.060, the expected costs of the contract shall be the engineer’s estimate of the contract work plus the amount of any work added by addenda to the bid documents, plus any applicable sales tax computed at the rate in place at the time of bid opening.

E. For contracts not required to be formally advertised, the city shall issue an invitation to bid, request for quote or other form as determined appropriate by the city engineer. Nonformal advertised contracts may conform to the small works roster or limited public works process described in RCW 39.04.155 or other procurement process as deemed appropriate by the city engineer. (Ord. 6765 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 6679 § 4, 2018; Ord. 6545 § 1, 2014; Ord. 5866 § 1, 2004; Ord. 4924 § 2, 1997; Ord. 4581 § 2, 1992. Formerly 3.12.011 and 3.12.020.)