Procurement Policy
document
7 pages
Meeting: portal event 908 (no meeting page on file)
Agenda item: Adoption of Board Policies
Document, 7 pages. Attached to agenda item: “Adoption of Board Policies”
Retrieved 2026-04-15 from the village's meeting portal.
View the original PDF ↗
Also attached to this agenda item:
Breach Notification Policy
Debt Policy
Fund Balance Policy
Investment Policy
Resolution 251-2023 Adoption of Board Policies
Sexual Harassment Prevention and Unlawful Harassment Policies
Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
Extracted text
Subdivision 1 of Section 103 of the General Municipal Law as amended in 2011
increased bid limits from $10,000 to $20,000 for commodities and from $20,000 to
$35,000 for public works projects. A new section, 104-b was added which required that
procedures for purchasing goods and services that fall below the new monetary bid limits
must be established and approved by the governing board.
VILLAGE OF CROTON-ON-HUDSON POLICY FOR PROCUREMENT NOT
SUBJECT TO BIDDING REQUIREMENTS AS PER GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW
104-B.
SECTION I
DETERMINATION OF WHICH PROCESS TO USE (BID OR QUOTE):
Purchases shall be evaluated with attention given to cumulative dollar amounts expected
in a given fiscal year. When necessary, canvassing of departments will be done to
determine yearly value of commodity. Past history can be taken into consideration when
evaluating yearly costs associated with the purchase of a commodity. If the bid limit is
suspected to be exceeded, bidding shall take place. This decision shall be made in
cooperation with the Department Head, Village Treasurer, and Village Manager.
If any purchases or projects are under the respective bid limits, but suspected to exceed
such limits in any one fiscal year, discretion shall be used and the bidding procedure may
take effect.
SECTION II
EXCEPTIONS TO BIDDING
Emergency. When an emergency exists wherein the delay caused by soliciting bids
would endanger the health, welfare or property of the municipality, and/or its residents,
then the procurement of goods or services will be at the discretion of the proper
department head. Documentation as to the nature of the emergency must be sent to the
Village Manager or his designee within five (5) working days of such procurement.
SECTION III
METHODS OF PROCUREMENTS NOT COVERED BY BIDDING:
Purchasing
Most purchases that fall in the Village’s stated dollar categories as shown in Exhibit A
will be obtained through quotes by one of the following methods:
Telephone Quotations. The telephone log or other record should record at a
minimum: date, item or service desired, price quoted, name of vendor, name of vendor’s
representative.
Written Quotations. Vendors should provide at a minimum: date, description of
item or details of service to be provided, price quoted, name of contact.
Due to past history, general knowledge, or urgent need, some purchases over $1,999 but
under $19,999 may be placed directly without obtaining multiple quotes. Permission
must first be obtained in writing by either the Village Manager or his designee or Village
Treasurer. In addition, see Section VI, Emergency Purchases and Emergency Public
Works Contracts.
Except as outlined in Section II – Exceptions to Bidding, under no circumstances will a
quote that exceeds the bidding limits be awarded.
Public Works Contracts
Most public works contracts that fall in the Village’s stated dollar categories as shown in
Exhibit A will be obtained through quotes by one of the following methods:
Telephone Quotations. The telephone log or other record should record at a
minimum: date, item or service desired, price quoted, name of vendor, name of vendor’s
representative.
Written Quotations. Vendors should provide at a minimum: date, description of
item or details of service to be provided, price quoted, name of contact.
Requests for Proposals. An effective way to award Public Works contracts is to
award them only after a minimum number of professionals are contacted and asked to
submit written proposals.
Due to past history or general knowledge, some contracts may be awarded without
obtaining multiple quotes. A department head may also deem, based on cost or other
urgent need, to award a contract without obtaining multiple quotes. Permission must first
be obtained in writing by either the Village Manager or his designee or Village Treasurer.
In addition, see Section VI, Emergency Purchases and Public Works Contracts.
Except as outlined in Section II – Exceptions to Bidding, under no circumstances will a
quote that exceeds the bidding limits be awarded.
Professional Services
Where applicable, the Village Manager, Treasurer, or Department Head will initiate one
of several processes in order to acquire professional services at the best price and value
for the Village. This includes request for proposals and request for qualifications. A
minimum of three vendors will be solicited when possible.
Request for Proposals for Professional Services
Requests for proposals (RFPs) are traditionally used as a means of obtaining all types of
professional services. RFPs are used to obtain the services of: architects, engineers,
surveyors, planners, accountants, underwriters, fiscal consultants, and other professionals.
RFPs and evaluation of proposals can consider price plus other factors such as
experience, staffing and suitability for needs and may include negotiations on a fair and
equal basis.
The process involves making a request for proposals from various firms or professionals,
and then evaluating the proposals received.
The overall process should consider the following:
1. A well planned solicitation effort is needed to identify a sufficient number of
qualified firms. This may include, but is not limited to, the following:
advertisements in trade journals, searching professional associations, and
obtaining sources from other local governments. A good solicitation effort helps
to ensure that these qualified firms are aware of the Village’s needs and
procurement procedures and are thereby able to participate in the proposal
process.
2. A well planned solicitation effort helps encourage qualified firms to respond to
RFPs. Preparing a response to an RFP can be costly. Qualified firms may be
unwilling to go to the trouble and expense of preparing a proposal if critical
details of the method used to select (i.e., quality versus price) are not made clear
in the RFP.
3. A well planned solicitation effort can result in reduced costs through increased
competition. Of course, if not properly managed, competition can produce
unsatisfactory results. The Village may obtain a poor quality of service, for
example, if only cost factors are considered in the selection of a firm. However, if
a sufficient pool of qualified firms is identified through a sound solicitation effort,
the Village can enjoy the economic benefits of competition without sacrificing
quality.
There is no requirement in Section 104-b on the frequency of solicitation, periodic
solicitation can be made at reasonable intervals. For example, a professional could be
selected with the option of extending the contract in the second and third years before
doing another RFP process.
Request for Qualifications
In certain cases the Village may solicit qualifications instead of proposals for various
professional services. This is usually done when the scope of work has not been
narrowly defined. The Village uses the process of its interviews with the selected
firms to meet with the representatives of each firm in order to determine the most
qualified company. The interviews also help Village staff to get input from the
potential consultants on a possible scope of work for the project. RFQs can be used
when soliciting the services of consultants, planners, architects, or attorneys.
Written Quotes
When the project is considered small and not complex, Village staff may just solicit
written quotes without going through the formal RFP or RFQ process. This would
usually happen in the case of small surveys or limited engineering design plans for a
small project.
SECTION IV
DOCUMENTATION
All quotes (written or telephone) shall be documented and attached to all requisitions
using the Village’s requisition order form, thus creating an audit trail. Requisitions
will not be processed without this documentation.
All awards from quotes shall be made to the lowest responsible bidder if possible or
by using the Best Value Procurement Method (see section V). Circumstances which
will be documented in writing may indicate purchase from other than low bidder (i.e.,
delivery requirements, quantity requirements, store pickup, the location of vendor,
known past experience of a vendor, etc.) This document must be approved in
advance by either the Village Manager or his designee or the Village Treasurer.
SECTION V
BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT
In accordance with section 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law and pursuant to NYS
General Municipal Law §103, in April 2014, the Village Board of Trustees enacted
Chapter 79 “Best Value Procurement” law to be incorporated into the Village’s
Procurement Policy. Best value is defined in New York State Finance Law § 163.
When awarding contracts under the best value standard, the Village must consider the
overall combination of quality, price, and other elements of the required commodity or
service that in total are optimal relative to the needs of the Village. Use of the best value
standard must rely, wherever possible, on objective and quantifiable analysis. The best
value standard may identify as a quantitative factor whether offerers are small businesses
or certified minority- or women-owned business enterprises as defined in New York
Executive Law § 310. The best value standard may only be used for purchase contracts,
which includes contracts for service work, but excludes any purchase contracts necessary
for the completion of a public works contract pursuant to Article Eight of the Labor Law.
SECTION VI
OTHER
Mandated Sources. Mandated procurement sources shall be investigated when
possible. These sources include Department of Correction, Industries for the Blind of
New York State and the New York State Industries for the Disabled.
Insurance. All agreements for insurance coverage will be investigated by the
Village Manager. If competition is available in the market, RFPs will be requested,
evaluated and an award made. If no competition is available, a contract will be
negotiated between the Village and the respective carrier.
Sole Source. When there is only one possible source from which to procure
goods and/or services, thus indicating there is no possibility of competition, the following
will be documented in writing:
1. Unique benefits of item needed.
2. No other product/service can compare.
3. Cost is reasonable as compared to product offered.
4. There is no competition available.
True Lease. Prices will be negotiated between the Village of Croton-on-Hudson
and Lessor.
SECTION VII
EMERGENCY PURCHASES AND EMERGENCY PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS
The term “Emergency Purchase” as defined in Section 4 of the General Municipal Law is
as follows:
“… in the case of a public emergency arising out of an accident or other
unforeseen occurrence or condition, whereby circumstances affect public
buildings, public property or the life, health, safety or property of the inhabitants
of a political sub-division or district therein, require immediate action which
cannot await competitive bidding, contracts for purchase or public work may be
let without compliance without formal advertising requirements…”
Consequently, unless the situation threatens lives, health or public property, the purchase
of services or products must go through normal channels.
In those cases of emergency, requiring immediate action, the department head
responsible for that operation will assume charge for the operation. The following
procedure will be used:
1. Contact the vendor immediately and arrange the purchase or service.
2. Notify the Manager or Treasurer in writing as soon as possible when the
emergency purchases or services are necessary, and document what was
required, and from whom the purchase was being made.
SECTION VIII
PIGGYBACKING
In addition to the procedures and guidelines stated herein, in accordance with General
Municipal Law§ 103(16) effective November 13, 2013, New York State political
subdivisions have the authority for “Piggybacking” to contracts awarded by other
municipal entities. Based on the authority granted under Chapter 497 of the Laws of
2013, the Village will make purchases through the use of contracts awarded by other
governmental entities as long as such contracts are awarded to either the lowest
responsible bidder or based on the Best Value Purchase in a manner consistent with
General Municipal Law.
June 1, 2014
APPENDIX A
VILLAGE’S STATED DOLLAR CATEGORIES
Purchasing Contracts
Discretion
of Dept.
Head
Minimum 3
Quotes
Telephone*
Minimum 3
Quotes
Written*
Bid**
Up To
$1,999
X
$2,000
$4,999
X
$5,000
$19,999
X
$20,000
Or Over
X
*Due to past history, general knowledge, or urgent need, some purchases over $1,999 but
under $19,999 shall be placed directly without obtaining multiple quotes. Permission
must first be obtained in writing by either the Village Manager or his designee or Village
Treasurer. In addition, see Section VI, Emergency Purchases and Public Works
Contracts.
**Except as outlined in Section II – Exceptions to Bidding, under no circumstances will a
quote that exceeds the bidding limits be awarded.
Public Works Contracts
Discretion
of Dept.
Head
Minimum 3
Quotes
Telephone*
Minimum 3
Quotes
Written or
RFP*
Bid**
Up To
$4,999
X
X
$5,000
$34,999
X
$35,000
Or Over
X
*Due to past history or general knowledge, some contracts may be awarded without
obtaining multiple quotes. A department head may also deem, based on cost or other
urgent need, to award a contract without obtaining multiple quotes. Permission must first
be obtained in writing by either the Village Manager or his designee or Village Treasurer.
In addition, see Section VI, Emergency Purchases and Public Works Contracts.
**Except as outlined in Section II – Exceptions to Bidding, under no circumstances will a
quote that exceeds the bidding limits be awarded.
Machine-extracted for search and reference — the original PDF is the authoritative version.