Exceptions to Competitive Bidding

Sacramento City Code tit. 3, ch. 3.56, art. IV

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 3.56.230 Generally.

3.56.230 Generally. The restrictions and provisions of this chapter requiring the award of contracts by competitive bidding shall not apply to the following: A. Any transaction where maintenance, remodel, or repair work is to be performed by city employees. B. When, after advertising for bids as required in this chapter, no valid bids are received. C. When, after receiving bids, the city rejects all of the bids. D. When the bidder to whom an award is made fails to enter into the contract as required and the city does not make an award to the next lowest-responsible bidder, as provided in this chapter. E. When, upon a two-thirds vote of the city council or the approval of the city manager, consistent with the thresholds in sections 3.56.080 and 3.56.090 of this chapter, it is determined that it is in the best interests of the city to suspend competitive bidding or utilize an alternative method of procurement for any contract. F. When any contract is entered into pursuant to or under any special assessment proceedings in which competitive bidding policies are specified by laws of the state of California. G. Purchases pursuant to sections 3.56.240, 3.56.250, and 3.56.260. (Ord. 2024-0010 § 4)

Sacramento City Code § 3.56.240 Cooperative purchasing.

3.56.240 Cooperative purchasing. The city may utilize piggybacking or cooperative purchasing agreements without separate competitive bidding by the city. Purchases through cooperative purchasing agreements or piggybacking are exempt from chapters 3.54, 3.58, 3.62, and 3.64. (Ord. 2024-0010 § 4)

Sacramento City Code § 3.56.250 Purchase of surplus goods.

3.56.250 Purchase of surplus goods. When it is advantageous to the city, the city may purchase surplus goods from any public agency without compliance with the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 2024-0010 § 4)

Sacramento City Code § 3.56.260 Emergency purchases.

3.56.260 Emergency purchases. A. For purchases that do not individually exceed $250,000, the city manager may execute contracts or other purchasing documents, subject to approval as to form by the city attorney, without advertising for bids or proposals, when public interest and necessity demand immediate action, repair, or replacement to safeguard life, health, or property; to permit the continued conduct of city operations or services; or to mitigate further damage. B. Following any purchase authorized by this section, the city manager shall present a report to the city council, at the next available meeting of the council, describing the emergency, the actions taken, and the number and value of contracts executed. C. When public interest and necessity demand immediate action, repair, or replacement to safeguard life, health, or property, to permit the continued conduct of city operations or services, or to mitigate further damage, and the cost is estimated to exceed $250,000, the city manager may immediately execute a contract, subject to approval as to form by the city attorney, to initiate the necessary emergency services without advertising for bids or proposals. At the next available council meeting, the city manager shall present a report as outlined above and include the additional remedial actions required, and the total estimated costs. The council may contract for the additional emergency services or authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute change orders to the original contract or execute additional contracts within limits then established by the city council. (Ord. 2024-0010 § 4)

Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-5735Fetched: 10/24/2026