The Board supports economic development in Iowa. Purchases by the school district will be made in Iowa for Iowa goods and services from a locally-owned business located within the school district or from an Iowa-based company which offers these goods or services if the cost and other considerations are relatively equal and they meet the required specifications. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to approve purchases, except those authorized by or requiring direct board action. The superintendent may coordinate and combine purchases with other governmental bodies to take advantage of volume price breaks. Joint purchases with other political subdivisions will be considered in the purchase of equipment, accessories or attachments with an estimated cost of $50,000 or more. The superintendent shall have the authority to authorize purchases without competitive bids for goods and services costing under $15,000 without prior board approval. For goods and services costing more than $15,000 and less than $50,000, the superintendent shall receive quotes of the goods and services to be purchased prior to approval of the board. For goods and services utilized in public improvement projects, as defined under Iowa law, costing more than $50,000 and less than $130,000, the superintendent shall receive competitive quotes of the goods and services to be purchased prior to approval of the board. For goods and services utilized in public improvement projects, as defined under Iowa law, costing more than $130,000, the superintendent shall receive competitive sealed bids of the goods and services to be purchased prior to approval of the board, including construction contracts and school buses The purchase will be made from the lowest responsible bidder based upon total cost considerations including, but not limited to, the cost of the goods and services being purchased, availability of service and/or repair, delivery date, and other factors deemed relevant by the board. The board and the superintendent shall have the right to reject any or all bids, or any part thereof, and to re-advertise. The board will enter into such contract or contracts as the board deems in the best interests of the school district.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code 18.6(9); 23A; 28E.20; 72.3; 73: 73A; 285.10(3), .10(7); 301 (2003).
Cross Reference: 705 Expenditures 801.4 Site Acquisition 802 Selling and Leasing
Approved Dec. 13, 2004
Reviewed November 20, 2023
Revised June 9, 2014
In connection with transactions subject to federal suspension and debarment requirements, the district is prohibited from entering into transactions with parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in federal assistance programs or activities.
When soliciting bids or otherwise preparing to enter into such a transaction, the superintendent or designee will use at least one of the following verification methods to ensure that any parties to the transaction are not suspended or debarred prior to committing to any sub-award, purchase, or contract:
2 CFR Part 200 Subpart B-General Provisions
200.113 Mandatory Disclosures
A non-Federal entity or applicant for a Federal award must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award. Non-Federal entities that have received a Federal award including the term and condition outlined in Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters are required to report certain civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings to SAM. Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in §200.338 Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment. (See also 2 CFR part 180, 31 U.S.C. 3321, and 41 U.S.C. 2313.) It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to timely report to the relevant federal or pass through agency any violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery or gratuity potentially impacting a federal grant.
Approve November 20, 2023
Reviewed October 9, 2023
Revised
Purchasing – Bidding - Using Federal Funds in Procurement Contracts
In addition to the District’s standard procurement and purchasing procedures, the following procedures for vendors/contractors paid with federal funds are required. When federal, state, and local requirements conflict, the most stringent requirement will be followed.
2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D Section §200.318 (c)(1)
No District employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award and administration of contracts supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. District officers, employees, and agents may neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts. However, for situations where the financial interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of nominal value, district employees must abide by all relevant board policies. Violation of this requirement may result in disciplinary action for the District employee, officer, or agent.
2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D Subsection §200.320 (e)(1-4)
Procurement for contracts paid with federal funds may be conducted by noncompetitive (single source) proposals when one or more of the following circumstances apply: (1) the item is only available from a single source; (2) public exigency or emergency will not permit the delay resulting from competitive bids; (3) the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity expressly authorizes noncompetitive proposals in response to a written request from the non-Federal entity; or (4) after solicitation of a number of sources, competition is inadequate.
2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D Subsection §200.321
The District will take all necessary affirmative steps to assure that minority businesses, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when possible. Affirmative steps must include: (1) placing such businesses on solicitation lists; (2) soliciting such businesses whenever they are potential sources; (3) when economically feasible, dividing contracts into smaller tasks or quantities to allow participation from such businesses; (4) establishing delivery schedules that encourage participation by such businesses; (5) when appropriate, utilizing the Small Business Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce; and (6) requiring the primary contractor to follow steps (1) through (5) when subcontractors are used.
The district will include the following provisions in all procurement contracts or purchase orders include the following provisions when applicable:
2 CFR Part 200 Appendix II
(A) Contracts for more than the simplified acquisition threshold currently set at $150,000, which is the inflation adjusted amount determined by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) as authorized by 41 U.S.C. 1908, must address administrative, contractual, or legal remedies in instances where contractors violate or breach contract terms, and provide for such sanctions and penalties as appropriate.
(B) All contracts in excess of $10,000 must address termination for cause and for convenience by the non-Federal entity including the manner by which it will be effected and the basis for settlement.
(C) Equal Employment Opportunity. Except as otherwise provided under 41 CFR Part 60, all contracts that meet the definition of “federally assisted construction contract” in 41 CFR Part 60-1.3 must include the equal opportunity clause provided under 41 CFR 60-1.4(b), in accordance with Executive Order 11246, “Equal
Employment Opportunity” (30 FR 12319, 12935, 3 CFR Part, 1964-1965 Comp., p. 339), as amended by Executive Order 11375, “Amending Executive Order 11246 Relating to Equal Employment Opportunity,” and implementing regulations at 41 CFR part 60, “Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Equal Employment Opportunity, Department of Labor.”
(D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5, “Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction”). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The non-Federal entity must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. The contracts must also include a provision for compliance with the Copeland “Anti-Kickback” Act (40 U.S.C. 3145), as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 3, “Contractors and Subcontractors on Public Building or Public Work Financed in Whole or in Part by Loans or Grants from the United States”). The Act provides that each contractor or subrecipient must be prohibited from inducing, by any means, any person employed in the construction, completion, or repair of public work, to give up any part of the compensation to which he or she is otherwise entitled. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency.
(E) Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 3701-3708). Where applicable, all contracts awarded by the non-Federal entity in excess of $100,000 that involve the employment of mechanics or laborers must include a provision for compliance with 40 U.S.C. 3702 and 3704, as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 5). Under 40 U.S.C. 3702 of the Act, each contractor must be required to compute the wages of every mechanic and laborer on the basis of a standard work week of 40 hours. Work in excess of the standard work week is permissible provided that the worker is compensated at a rate of not less than one and a half times the basic rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in the work week. The requirements of 40 U.S.C. 3704 are applicable to construction work and provide that no laborer or mechanic must be required to work in surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous. These requirements do not apply to the purchases of supplies or materials or articles ordinarily available on the open market, or contracts for transportation or transmission of intelligence.
(F) Rights to Inventions Made Under a Contract or Agreement. If the Federal award meets the definition of “funding agreement” under 37 CFR §401.2 (a) and the recipient or subrecipient wishes to enter into a contract with a small business firm or nonprofit organization regarding the substitution of parties, assignment or performance of experimental, developmental, or research work under that “funding agreement,” the recipient or subrecipient must comply with the requirements of 37 CFR Part 401, “Rights to Inventions Made by Nonprofit Organizations and Small Business Firms Under Government Grants, Contracts and Cooperative Agreements,” and any implementing regulations issued by the awarding agency.
(G) Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251-1387), as amended—Contracts and subgrants of amounts in excess of $150,000 must contain a provision that requires the non-Federal award to agree to comply with all applicable standards, orders or regulations issued pursuant to the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251-1387). Violations must be reported to the Federal awarding agency and the Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
(H) Debarment and Suspension (Executive Orders 12549 and 12689)—A contract award (see 2 CFR 180.220) must not be made to parties listed on the government wide exclusions in the System for Award Management (SAM), in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR part 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR part 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” SAM Exclusions contains the names of parties debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded by agencies, as well as parties declared ineligible under statutory or regulatory authority other than Executive Order 12549.
(I) Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352)—Contractors that apply or bid for an award exceeding $100,000 must file the required certification. Each tier certifies to the tier above that it will not and has not used Federal appropriated funds to pay any person or organization for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a member of Congress in connection with obtaining any Federal contract, grant or any other award covered by 31 U.S.C. 1352. Each tier must also disclose any lobbying with non-Federal funds that takes place in connection with obtaining any Federal award. Such disclosures are forwarded from tier to tier up to the non-Federal award.
(J) See §200.322 Procurement of recovered materials.
§200.216 Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment
(a) The district is prohibited from obligating or expending loan or grant funds to:
i. For purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunication equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).
ii. Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment.
iii. Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the National Intelligence of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned by or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a foreign country.
(b) In implementing the prohibition under Public Law 115-232, section 889, subsection (f), paragraph (l), heads of executive agencies administering loan, grant, or subsidy programs shall prioritize available funding and technical support to assist affected businesses, institutions and organizations as is reasonably necessary for those affected entities to transition from covered communications equipment and services, to procure replacement equipment and services, and to ensure that communications service to users and customers is sustained.
(c) See Public Law 115-232, section 889 for additional information.
(d) See also §200.471.
Approved November 20, 2023
Reviewed October 9, 2023
Revised
The school district shall not purchase items on behalf of employees excluding unusual and unique circumstances. It shall be within the discretion of the board to determine when unique and unusual circumstances exist. No purchase shall be made unless the employee has paid the school district prior to the order being placed and the employee has agreed to be responsible for any taxes or other expenses due.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code 279.8 (2003).
Cross Reference: 703 Budget
Approved Dec. 13, 2004
Reviewed November 20, 2023
Revised February 9, 2009
The board authorizes the issuance for payment of claims against the school district for goods and services. The board will allow the payments after the goods and services have been received and accepted in compliance with board policy. The board authorizes the board secretary, upon approval of the superintendent, to issue payment for verified bills, for reasonable and necessary expenses, when the board is not in session. The board secretary will examine the claims and verify bills. The board will approve the bills at its next regular meeting. The secretary shall determine to the secretary's satisfaction that the claims presented to the board are in order and are legitimate expenses of the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the secretary to bring claims to the board. The board president and board secretary may sign warrants by use of a signature plate or rubber stamp. If the board president is unavailable to personally sign warrants, the vice president may sign warrants on behalf of the president. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Legal Reference:
Love v. City of Des Moines, 210 Iowa 90, 230 N.W. 373 (1930).
Iowa Code §§ 279.8, .29, .30, .36; 291.12; 721.2(5).
281 I.A.C. 12.3(1).
Cross Reference: 705 Expenditures
Approved Dec. 13, 2004
Reviewed November 20, 2023
Revised February 9, 2009