TO: Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Kristin Daniels, Director, Office of Management and Budget
FROM: Jennifer Hyde, Procurement Manager
DATE: August 5, 2025
SUBJECT: Approval of Changes to Purchasing Manual and Procedures and Authorization
to Advertise for Public Hearing for Changes to Chapter 105 Indian River
County Code
__________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
Local procurement procedures are established in Chapter 105 of Indian River County Code, as well as the Purchasing Manual. The most recent changes to Chapter 105 were approved by the Board in 2019, and the last update to the manual was published in the spring of 2023.
Suggestions and ideas for changes to the Purchasing Manual are noted continuously. At the County Administrator’s suggestion, online surveys were distributed to obtain input from department directors through end users. Subsequently, workshops were held with Department Heads, the County Administrator and the County Attorney. Travel and food policy changes requested have already been presented to the Board, and several other proposed changes are being submitted to improve the efficiency and transparency of our procurement processes.
The most significant recommendations relate to financial thresholds. In general, higher thresholds are proposed to facilitate quicker procurement of goods and services, such as vehicles and facility repairs. A higher threshold can also increase the utilization of local and disadvantaged vendors, as formal procurement processes are often identified as obstacles to participation by those categories of businesses. Modification of our thresholds to match the federal limits would also enable us to seamlessly comply with the federal procurement requirements that are effective after a hurricane or other natural disaster. Regardless of thresholds, quotes, formal bids, and bid security are always available ...
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