Under the direction of the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director or designee shall have the authority to purchase or lease products or services to provide the best and most efficient public library services possible provided that the amount budgeted for any such expense line of the budget shall not be exceeded without prior approval of the Executive Director.
In accordance with Chapter 75 ILCS 5/55 and except as otherwise provided, all purchase orders or contracts for products and services in excess of $25,000 shall be let by free and open competitive bidding to the lowest responsible bidder, or any other bidder determined by the Board to be in the best interest of the Library.
All purchase orders or contracts for products and services less than $25,000 but more than $5,000 may be made in the open market, without the above competitive bid requirements, but shall whenever possible be based on at least three written competitive proposals obtained by direct mail, telephone, fax, online communication or from vendor’s price lists or other quote information.
Purchases and services less than $5,000 may be made with attention to the lowest possible cost, consistent with needs of the user departments with regard to durability, performance, prior experience, delivery and service capability. Where possible, three written proposals or three documented price quotes will be obtained.
Contracts for the services of individuals possessing a high degree of professional skill, where ability and fitness of the individual plays an important part, such as with consulting services, may be by obtaining written proposals instead of competitive bidding. When such written proposals exceed $25,000 the Board will be asked to waive bids and approve entering into the contract.
Contracts for library materials, utilities, emergency services or that are only available from a single source are not adaptable to award by competitive bidding and shall not be subject to the competitive bidding policy. However, such contracts in excess of $25,000 shall be presented to the Board requesting approval to waive bids and approval to enter into a formal contract.
Adopted by the Board of Trustees December 12, 2011; Revised December 11, 2017; Updated October 10, 2022, Revised October 9, 2023