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Board approves higher procurement thresholds to align with state rules
Summary
The board voted to adopt procurement manual updates that raise advertising and board‑approval thresholds to match New Mexico procurement standards and federal small‑purchase guidance, allowing staff more flexibility for routine purchases.
The South Central Regional Transit District board voted to adopt amendments to its procurement manual that raise several dollar thresholds and clarify small‑purchase tiers, the board decided after a presentation by procurement staff.
Diana Chairs, SCRTD procurement specialist, told the board the manual increases the advertisement threshold from $10,000 to $60,000 and raises the board‑approval threshold for contracts from $20,000 to $100,000, excluding taxes. "The threshold for advertising procurement projects has been raised from $10,000 to $60,000 bringing SCRTD policy in line with a new procurement New Mexico procurement code," she said.
Chairs explained the manual now defines small purchases as procurements up to $100,000 with different procedures for micro purchases under $10,000 and small purchases between $10,000 and $100,000. She noted the change also reflects federal small‑purchase guidance and the Federal Transit Administration's higher maximums while observing the New Mexico code sets a lower $60,000 threshold when state or local funds trigger that standard.
Board members asked about oversight and tracking. Councilor Flores asked how staff would ensure checks and balances with the higher thresholds; procurement staff and Finance Officer Adam Shea said projects remain subject to audit, insurance certificates and state review when applicable, and that many awards are already disclosed to the board through the budget process. Trustee Poway and Mayor Perea described similar changes in their municipalities and supported aligning SCRTD policy with state practice to reduce approval delays.
The motion to approve the procurement manual update passed in a roll call vote. No changes to the adopted thresholds were made in the meeting; board members discussed the idea of bringing some procurements to the board as consent agenda items for visibility but did not alter the adopted text.
Chairs and staff said they will update the procurement documentation and continue to present larger contracts (those above $100,000) for board approval and to track smaller procurements as part of regular budget reporting.
