IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
AN ORDINANCE repealing sections 1030. and 1040. of the Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to competitive bidding, and enacting, in lieu thereof, two new sections relating to the same subject.
Intro
ORDINANCE NO. 6105, July 13, 2026
INTRODUCED BY Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislator
Body
BE IT ORDAINED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri as follows:
Section A. Enacting Clause. Section 1030. and 1040. Jackson County Code, 1984, are hereby repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 1030 and 1040 to read as follows:
1030. Competitive Bids Not Required, Circumstances.
The Director of Finance and Purchasing may accomplish the following purchases without competitive bidding, and without prior legislative approval except as specifically provided in this section. In accomplishing such purchases, the director shall be guided to the extent practicable by the policies set out in sections 1000. and 1054. of this chapter.
1030.1 Sole Source.
Competitive bidding shall not be required when the items to be purchased can be obtained from only one source. Before a purchase is made pursuant to this subsection which has a purchase price of over [twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)] ten-thousand dollars ($10,000), the Director of Finance and Purchasing shall submit said purchase to the County Legislature for approval and the purchase shall only be effective upon legislative approval. In the recommendation to the Legislature, the director shall set out the reason for the decision not to seek competitive bids.
a. Reasons for a sole source purchase may include, but are not limited to:
1. Vendors that demonstrate a unique capability to provide the supplies or services proposed.
2. Offering of a concept or service not otherwise available to Jackson County.
3. Does not resemble the substance of a pending competitive acquisition.
4. In the case of follow-on contracts wherein awarding a bid to another source will create a substantial duplication of cost, and or unacceptable delays in fulfilling the department’s requirements.
1030.2 Acquisition From Other Government.
Competitive bidding shall not be required when the items to be purchased can be obtained from another government, at a price below that quoted by a private vendor. Before a purchase is made pursuant to this subsection which has a purchase price of over twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), the Director of Finance and Purchasing shall submit said purchase to the County Legislature for approval and the purchase shall only be effective upon legislative approval. In the recommendation to the Legislature, the director shall set out the reason for the decision not to seek competitive bids.
1030.3 Emergency Purchases.
Competitive bidding shall not be required for purchases under twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) when the County Executive has declared, in writing, the purchase to be an emergency. Purchases in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) made under the provisions of this subsection [shall be reported to the County Legislature at its next regularly scheduled meeting] require authorization from the County Executive and County Legislature and
a. procurement of three (3) informal competitive bids;
b. The Legislature must be provided a comprehensive plan in writing outlining the details and timeline of the plan to mitigate the emergency to completion.
c. authorized emergency spending must occur within ninety (90) days following authorization.
1) If emergency spending must be extended past ninety (90) days, such request shall be made in writing and taken up by the County Legislature in a special meeting convened on the next available business day.
1030.4 Fixed Price Contractual Documents.
Competitive bidding shall not be required when the items purchased are the subject of existing and current federal, state, or local government fixed price contractual documents, if the prices quoted in those documents are more advantageous to the County than local market prices for like items. Before a purchase is made pursuant to this subsection which has a purchase price in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), the Director of Finance and Purchasing shall submit the purchase to the County Legislature for approval and the purchase shall only be effective upon legislative approval. In the recommendation to the Legislature, the director shall set out the reason for decision not to seek competitive bids.
1030.5 Purchases of [$5,000] $10,000 or less.
Competitive bidding shall not be required on any purchase in the amount of [five thousand dollars ($5,000)] ten-thousand dollars ($10,000) or less made from any one person, firm, or corporation. Cumulative purchases of the same or similar products or services from one vendor in an amount in excess of [five thousand dollars ($5,000)] ten-thousand dollars ($10,000) in any one-year period shall utilize the informal competitive bid procedure set out in section 1040. of this chapter.
1030.6 Purchase of Proprietary Goods for Resale.
Competitive bidding shall not be required when the items to be purchased are proprietary goods not available in a competitive market, provided that such goods are purchased for resale in a facility or service operated by the County. Proprietary goods are defined as goods manufactured under an exclusive individual/corporate right to make and sell them. Before a purchase is made pursuant to this subsection which has a purchase price of over twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), the Director of Finance and Purchasing shall submit the purchase to the County Legislature for approval and the purchase shall only be effective upon legislative approval.
1030.7 Tax Exempt Organizations and Agencies.
Competitive bidding shall not be required when funds are appropriated and a contract for services is or will be awarded by resolution or ordinance of the County Legislature to an organization or agency which is exempt from federal income taxation.
1040. Informal Competitive Bid Procedure.
The Director of Finance and Purchasing may use the informal competitive bid procedure described in this section for purchases of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) but not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), excluding purchases outlined in section 1030.3, in lieu of the procedures described in sections 1050. through 1055. for award of formal contracts.
1040.1 Solicitation of Bids.
The Director of Finance and Purchasing or his or her designee shall solicit bids from prospective vendors by means at the director’s discretion, including but not limited, to telephone, media, and public notice posted on bulletin boards of the courthouses in Kansas City and Independence.
1040.2 Three Competitive Bids.
At least three (3) competitive bids shall be obtained.
1040.3 Lowest and Best Bidder.
Purchases shall be awarded to the bidder providing the best products and/or services that are available for the lowest price consistent with the standards set forth in section 1054.
1040.4 Records.
The Director of Finance and Purchasing shall keep a written or electronic record of all purchases accomplished under this section and all bids submitted in competition for those purchases, and those records shall be open to public inspection. Each such record shall describe the means by which the bid was received and any specific considerations or conditions attached to the bid and/or product or service.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Ordinance shall be effective immediately upon signature by the County Executive.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
County Counselor
I hereby certify that the attached ordinance, Ordinance No. 6105 introduced on July 13, 2026, was duly passed on _____________________, 2026 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas_____________ Nays_____________
Abstaining_________ Absent___________
This Ordinance is hereby transmitted to the County Executive for his signature.
_________________ ________________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of the Legislature
I hereby approve the attached Ordinance No. 6105.
_________________ ________________________________
Date Phil LeVota, County Executive