2714                               Municipal Charters

In determining "responsibility", the chief administrative officer shall
also ascertain whether the bidder is in default on the payment of any
money due the county and may deny the award of a contract to any
bidder who is in default. "Default on payment" shall not include liability
for taxes for the current year.

(j) In addition to the requirements set forth in paragraph (i)
above, when the lowest bidder is a prospective lessor, the following
special factors relating to the facility shall be considered in evaluating
his responsibility: location, parking, construction, accessibility, traffic,
janitorial services, heating, and air conditioning.

84-17. Open market procedure.

(a)    All purchases of goods or services estimated to cost less than
three thousand dollars may be made in the open market without observing
the formal bid procedure described in section 84-16 of this Code. All open
market purchases shall, wherever feasible, be based on competitive bids,
and shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with
the standards set forth in subsection (i) of section 84-16 of this Code.

(b)    All sales of goods which have become surplus, obsolete or un-
usable and whose value is estimated to be less than three thousand dollars
may be made without reference to the formal bid procedure. Such sales
shall, wherever feasible, be based on competitive bids, and shall be made
to the highest responsible bidder. The chief administrative officer is also
authorized, subject to the direction of the County Executive, to sell by
auction such property to the highest responsible bidder, after public notice,
when, in his opinion, the return to the county will be increased by this
procedure.

84-18. Single source purchases.

When the county requires goods or services which are supplied by
only one manufacturer, the chief administrative officer shall, subject to
the direction of the County Executive, purchase such items by obtaining
the lowest possible price by one of the following alternative methods:

(a)    Purchase directly from the one manufacturer without the neces-
sity of obtaining competitive bids.

(b)    Purchase directly from an exclusive franchised dealer without
the necessity of obtaining competitive bids.

(c)    Purchase from authorized dealers or distributors by obtaining
competitive bids.

84-19. Purchase of patented or proprietary articles.

When the county requires goods which are patented or proprietary
and which are obtainable in two or more equally satisfactory and competi-
tive makes, brands or types, the chief administrative officer may list such
acceptable and competitive makes, brands, or types in the invitations to
bid. Such lists shall also include the phrase "or equal" to permit bidders
to bid on alternate or additional makes, brands or types. It shall be
incumbent on each bidder to prove to the satisfaction of the county that
the alternate or additional make, brand or type is equal in quality or
performance to those listed in the invitation to bid.