Policy CBE - Procurement: Small Purchases

Policy CBE - Procurement: Small Purchases (PDF)

Issue Date: October 21, 2020

Updated: December 14, 2022

[Note that the regulations issued by the Procurement Policy Board establish small purchase thresholds of $100,000 for construction projects, for design professional services, and for professional services. (See Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-106(1), R33-5-105(1), and R33-5-108(1).) However, the threshold for construction in this model policy was set taking into account Utah Code § 53E-3-703, which requires a specified bidding process for school construction projects costing more than $80,000. The thresholds for design professional services and professional services were set at $80,000 for consistency with the construction threshold.]

Definitions

The following definitions apply to this policy:

“Annual cumulative threshold” means the maximum total amount that the District may expend to obtain procurement items as small purchase from the same source in a single year.
“Individual procurement threshold” means the maximum amount for which the District may purchase a procurement item as a small purchase.
“Single procurement aggregate threshold” means the maximum total amount that the District may expend to obtain multiple procurement items from one source at one time as small purchases.

Utah Code § 63G-6a-506(1) (2021)

Availability of Small Purchase Process

A small purchase procurement may be made according to the requirements of this policy for purchases that fall within the thresholds set forth in this policy. The District may use the small purchase procurement process for a purchase in excess of the thresholds only if the Procurement Official gives written authorization to do so and that written authorization sets forth the reasons for exceeding the threshold. The District may not use the small purchase process for ongoing, continuous, and regularly scheduled procurements that exceed the annual cumulative threshold. Rather, ongoing, continuous, and regularly scheduled procurements in excess of the annual cumulative threshold shall be made through a contract awarded through another standard procurement process or an applicable exception to another standard procurement process set forth in Policy CFB. (However, this limitation does not apply to regularly scheduled payments for a procurement item obtained under another procurement policy.)

Utah Code § 63G-6a-506 (3), (6), (7) (2021)

Thresholds

The individual procurement threshold for goods and general services is $5,000, for professional services is $80,000, for design professional services is $80,000, and for construction projects is $80,000, as set forth in Policy CCA. The single procurement aggregate threshold is $5,000 for goods and general services and $80,000 for professional services and for construction projects. The annual cumulative threshold is $50,000 for goods and general services and $80,000 for professional services and construction projects. Therefore, the small purchase procurement process set forth in this Policy may be used in obtaining goods or general services if the amount of an individual procurement item is $5,000 or less, or if multiple items obtained from the same source at the same time is estimated to be less than $10,000 for goods and general services. The small purchase procurement process may be used for purchases up to $80,000 of professional services or construction. However, if the contemplated purchase would cause any of these thresholds to be exceeded, the small purchase procurement method may not be used.

Utah Code § 63G-6a-506(1), (2) (2021)

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-104 (May 23, 2022)

General Small Purchase Process

The Quote Process

The quote process is a purchasing process that solicits pricing from several sources. A “quotation” is a statement of price, terms of sale, and description of procurement item offered by a vendor to the District. An electronic quotation is a quotation provided by a vendor through electronic means such as the internet, online sources, email, an interactive web-based market center, or other technology. A quotation is not binding and does not obligate the District to purchase (or the vendor to sell) the item.

To use the quote process, the District must obtain quotations which are for the same procurement item (including the same terms of sale, description, and quantity of goods or services). The District must disclose to the vendor that the quotation is for a government entity and inquire whether the vendor is willing to provide a discount to a government entity. The District must also maintain a public record which includes the name of each vendor supplying a quotation and the amount of each vendor’s quotation.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-4-110 (May 23, 2022)

Level 1

For small purchase procurements up to $5,000, the purchaser may select the best source without seeking competitive bids or quotes. The signatures of the requestor and immediate supervisor (or authorized business officer for the department or administration) are required on the purchase order or check request form. If the purchase is made using a District credit/purchase card, the employee should follow District policy for use of such cards.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-104(3)(May 23, 2022)

Level 2

For small purchase procurements between $5,000 and $10,000, the purchaser shall obtain at least two (2) competitive quotes that include minimum specifications and purchase the item or service from the responsible vendor offering the lowest quote that meets the specifications. These quotes may be verbal (for example, by telephone) or in writing. Documentation of quotes for all monetary levels must be attached to the purchase documentation and maintained as part of the District’s records. The signatures of the requestor, immediate supervisor (or authorized business officer for the department), and Business Administrator are required on the purchase order or check request form.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-107(1) (May 23, 2022)

Level 3

For small purchase procurements between $10,000 and $30,000, the purchaser shall obtain at least two (2) written competitive quotes that include specifications and purchase the item or service from the responsible vendor offering the lowest quote meeting the specifications. The written quotes must be attached to the purchase documentation and maintained as part of the District’s records. The signatures of the requestor, immediate supervisor (or authorized business officer for the department), and Business Administrator are required on the purchase order or check request form.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-107(2) (May 23, 2022)

Level 4

For small purchase procurements between $30,000 and $50,000, the purchaser shall obtain at least three (3) written competitive quotes that include specifications and purchase the item or service from the responsible vendor offering the lowest quote meeting specifications. Completed bids and an approved purchase order shall be sent to District purchasing for initiation and purchase. The signatures of the requestor, immediate supervisor (or authorized business officer for the department), and Business Administrator are required on the purchase order or check request form.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-107(2) (May 23, 2022)

Documentation of quotes

Documentation of quotes shall contain the following information:

The date the quote was received or the dates that the quoted price is valid;
The proposed delivery date;
The vendor’s name and address;
The name of the person providing the quote and contact information for that person;
A description of each item including specifications, unit price, total price, and quantity listed;
Shipping and freight charges; and
The name and position of the District employee obtaining the quote.

Quotes may be obtained and documented by printing pages from a website; however, all of the quote elements must be documented and employees should bear in mind that better prices are usually obtained by contacting vendors directly. Telephone quotes must be documented and include all quote elements. Written quotes should be provided on the vendor’s letterhead.

Construction Small Purchase Process

Using the procedures set out in Policy CBA, the District shall either prequalify potential construction vendors or develop an approved vendor list of construction vendors for use in small purchase construction projects. For any small purchase construction project, the District shall establish and use minimum specifications for the project.

When using an approved vendor list in a small-purchase construction procurement, the District will select vendors and contractors from the list using one of the following methods:

A rotation system, organized alphabetically, numerically, or randomly;
Assignment of vendors to a specified geographic area;
Assignment of vendors based on each vendor’s particular expertise or field; or
Another method approved by the Procurement Official.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-106.5(2) (May 23, 2022)

The Procurement Official may procure small construction projects up to a maximum of $25,000 by direct award without seeking competitive bids or quotes after documenting that all building code approvals, licensing requirements, permitting and other construction related requirements are met. The awarded contractor must certify that they are capable of meeting the minimum specifications of the project.

The Procurement Official may procure small construction projects costing more than $25,000 up to a maximum of $80,000 by obtaining a minimum of two competitive quotes that include minimum specifications and shall award to the contractor with the lowest quote that meets the specifications after documenting that all applicable building code approvals, licensing requirements, permitting and other construction related requirements are met.

For construction projects where the total estimated accumulated building project cost exceeds $80,000, the District shall follow the procedures set forth in Policy CCA.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-106 (May 23, 2022)

Utah Code § 53E-3-703 (2019)

Design Professional Small Purchase Process

After reviewing the qualifications of a minimum of three design professionals, the Procurement Official may obtain design professional services by direct negotiation up to a maximum of $80,000 per project after reviewing the qualifications of a minimum of three design professional firms. Prior to using the design professional small purchase process, the District shall establish minimum specifications.

When using an approved vendor list in a small-purchase design professional procurement, the District will select at least three design professional firms from the list using one of the following methods:

A rotation system, organized alphabetically, numerically, or randomly;
Assignment of vendors to a specified geographic area;
Assignment of vendors based on each vendor’s particular expertise or field; or
Another method approved by the Procurement Official.

After selecting three firms, the District shall rank the firms in order and begin negotiations, up to $80,000, with the highest-ranked firm. If an agreement cannot be reached with that firm, the District shall move to the next highest ranked firm and so on until a fee agreement is reached. If the District is not able to reach agreement with the three firms in the first group, it may select additional firms from the list and repeat the process or may cancel the procurement.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-105 (May 23, 2022)

Professional and Consultant Small Purchase Process

After reviewing the qualifications of a minimum of three professional service providers or consultants, the Procurement Official may obtain professional services or consulting services up to a maximum of $80,000 by direct negotiation.

If the District uses an approved vendor list in a professional or consultant small-purchase procurement, the District will select a minimum of three potential vendors from the list using one of the following methods:

A rotation system, organized alphabetically, numerically, or randomly;
Assignment of vendors to a specified geographic area;
Assignment of vendors based on each vendor’s particular expertise or field; or
Another method approved by the Procurement Official

After selecting three potential vendors from the approved vendor list, the District shall rank the potential vendors in order and begin negotiations up to $80,000 to the highest ranked firm. If an agreement cannot be reached with that firm, the District shall move to the next highest ranked firm and so on until a fee agreement is reached. If the District is not able ot reach agreement with any of the three firms in the first group, it may select additional firms from the list and repeat the process of may cancel the procurement.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-5-108 (May 23, 2022)

Improper Use of Small Purchase Process

It is unlawful and a violation of District policy to, with improper intent, knowingly divide a single procurement into multiple smaller procurements, including by dividing an invoice or purchase order into multiple invoices or purchase orders, if the single procurement would not have qualified as a small purchase and one or more of the multiple smaller procurements qualify as a small purchase. “Improper intent” means the intent either (a) to avoid having to use a standard procurement process (other than small purchase) that would otherwise be required or (b) to make one or more of the multiple smaller procurements fall under any small purchase threshold (individual item, single purchase aggregate, or annual cumulative). Caution should be exercised with using purchase cards, and employees should not split purchases with such cards to stay under daily purchase limits on purchase cards or the established purchasing thresholds.

Utah Code § 63G-6a-506(8) (2021)

Additional purchases of the same type of item may be necessary if, for example, it is determined after an order is placed or received that an insufficient quantity was ordered or that incorrect sizes were obtained. If additional purchases of the same item are necessary, for these or other reasons, the employee initiating the purchase must provide a written explanation of the purpose of the purchase and justification as to why it is not considered splitting a purchase. This written explanation should be retained with the vendor invoice.