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Council adopts updated purchasing policy, raises public-bid thresholds for electric utility purchases
Summary
The council adopted Resolution No. 2025-3 updating the city’s purchasing policy to clarify quotes vs. bids, define thresholds (informal quotes, written quotes, formal public bids) and reflect statutory higher thresholds for the electric utility where annual sales exceed $10 million.
The Seward City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-3 to revise the city’s purchasing policy, clarifying competitive procurement procedures, definitions for quotes, bids and proposals, and thresholds for informal/written quotations and formal public bids.
City staff said the policy rewrite updates a 2012 policy and incorporates recommendations from FEMA/NEMA audit reviewers after the 2019 flood. The revisions spell out the difference between informal quotes (under $25,100), written quotations ($25,000–$30,000 range), and formal public bids (over $30,000), and include a specific statutory adjustment for the electric utility: because annual electric sales exceed $10 million, the public-bid threshold for electric purchases moves from $30,000 to $120,000.
Staff noted the policy retains flexibility for professional services (RFQs/RFPs) and allows staff to use an existing vendor list where appropriate to keep projects moving. The personnel, finance and audit committee reviewed the draft and recommended it move to council for adoption. The council introduced the resolution and voted to adopt Resolution No. 2025-3; the clerk recorded an 8–0 vote in favor.
The revised purchasing policy will be implemented by city procurement staff and department heads; staff said they will adhere to the updated thresholds and competitive requirements and will apply the electric-specific threshold where applicable.
