Earlier editions: 2026-07
Title 3 — Finance›Chapter 3-4 — PURCHASING SYSTEM
Santa Maria Municipal Code Art. III Formal Contract Procedure
Santa Maria Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Santa Maria
Cite as: Santa Maria Municipal Code Article III · Text as of 2026-10-04
Section 3-4.30. Purchase Requirements.¶
The purchases and contracts for supplies, services, equipment, and construction projects, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, which are equal to or in excess of "formal bidding" requirement amount specified in the Purchasing Guidelines, shall be by written contract with the lowest responsible bidder pursuant to the procedures prescribed in the article.
(Ord. 2007-02, eff. 4/19/07)
Section 3-4.31. Notice Inviting Bids.¶
A notice inviting bids shall be issued, shall include a general description of the articles or services to be purchased, shall state the location where bid forms and specifications may be secured, shall state the time and place of the opening of the bids, and;
(a) The notices inviting bids shall be published at least 10 days before the date of opening of bids. Notices shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, printed, and published in the City of Santa Maria;
(b) The Purchasing Authority shall also solicit sealed bids from all responsible prospective bidders.
(Ord. 2007-02, eff. 4/19/07)
Section 3-4.32. Bidders' Security Requirements.¶
Bidders' security may be required when deemed necessary by the Purchasing Authority. Bidders shall be entitled to a return of the bid security. However, a successful bidder shall forfeit the bid security upon refusal or failure to execute a contract within fifteen days after notice of award of that contract, unless the City is responsible for the delay. The contract may be awarded to the next lowest responsible bidder upon the refusal or failure of the successful bidder to execute the contract within the time herein prescribed.
(Ord. 2007-02, eff. 4/19/07)
Section 3-4.33. Bid Opening and Retention.¶
Sealed bids shall be opened in public at the time and place stated in the notice inviting bids. A tabulation of all bids received shall be made available for public inspection until the award of a contract. All bids shall be retained on file for the period specified in the City of Santa Maria Document Retention Schedule.
(Ord. 2007-02, eff. 4/19/07)
Section 3-4.34. Rejection of Bids.¶
The Purchasing Authority may reject:
(a) Any bid that fails to meet the bidding requirements in any respect; or
(b) All bids, for any reason, and may readvertise for new bids or abandon the purchase.
| Nothing in this section is intended to grant the Purchasing Authority the ability to arbitrarily accept a bid which substantially deviates from the bid solicitation, or to reject any bid for arbitrary reasons. |
|---|
(Ord. 2007-02, eff. 4/19/07)
Section 3-4.35. No Bids Received.¶
If no bids are received, the purchase may be made through negotiated contract or other process as outlines in the Purchasing Guidelines.
(Ord. 2007-02, eff. 4/19/07)
Section 3-4.36. Award of Contract.¶
A contract will be awarded by the Purchasing Authority to the lowest responsible bidder, except as follows:
The Purchasing Authority in its discretion may negotiate terms for an award when two or more, lowest reasonable bids are tied and the public interest will not permit the delay of readvertising for bids.
(Ord. 2007-02, eff. 4/19/07)
Section 3-4.37. Bond Requirements of Successful Bidder.¶
The Purchasing Authority may require as a condition of executing a contract on behalf of the City, a performance bond or a labor and material bond, or both, in such amounts as the purchasing authority shall determine appropriate to protect the best interest of the City. The form and amounts of such bond(s) shall be described in the notice inviting bids.
(Ord. 2007-02, eff. 4/19/07)
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