Carmel board adopts consolidated purchasing policy, raises public‑works bidding threshold to $300,000

The City of Carmel Board of Public Works and Safety on July 16 approved a consolidated purchasing policy for all executive departments that combines older policies, executive orders and recent legislative changes into a single manual.

The policy, introduced by Sergei Gretchukin of the Office of Corporation Counsel, establishes an online posting requirement for procurements at $50,000 and above and raises the public‑works formal bid threshold to $300,000. "This document upgrades it, updates it, and brings it all together," Gretchukin said as he described the policy’s goals and the e‑procurement portal work flow.

Why it matters: the revision is intended to simplify procurement for departments and to reflect amendments from the state legislature. The board’s approval centralizes related rules — including capital asset and property‑disposal guidance — into a single, user‑facing manual for purchasing officers and department staff.

Key provisions and process limits included in the policy as presented: deputy purchasing agents can make small purchases up to $20,000; purchases from $20,000 to $50,000 are processed by purchasing agents with CFO approval; procurements of $50,000 and above must be posted to the city’s e‑procurement portal. Public‑works projects now trigger formal bidding at $300,000; projects between $50,000 and $300,000 use a quoting process. Gretchukin also noted the state increased the "own workforce" threshold to $375,000, which the policy incorporates.

Kirsten Haney of the Department of Finance was present to answer finance questions. Board member Potasnik offered praise for the presentation; a motion to approve was made and adopted with an affirmative voice vote.

The resolution is recorded as BPW07-16-25-01 and will govern purchasing procedures for executive branch departments until amended by the board or by changes required by state law.