2020 Arkansas Code
Title 14 - Local Government
Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government
Chapter 58 - Fiscal Affairs of Cities and Incorporated Towns
Subchapter 3 - Cities of the First Class Generally
§ 14-58-303. Purchases and contracts generally

(a) In a city of the first class, city of the second class, or incorporated town, the mayor or the mayor's duly authorized representative shall have exclusive power and responsibility to make purchases of all supplies, apparatus, equipment, materials, and other things requisite for public purposes in and for the city and to make all necessary contracts for work or labor to be done or material or other necessary things to be furnished for the benefit of the city, or in carrying out any work or undertaking of a public nature in the city.

(b)

1. (1)

   1. (A) Except as provided under § 14-58-104, the municipal governing body of any city of the first class shall provide by ordinance the procedure for making all purchases which do not exceed the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

   2. (B) Except as provided under § 14-58-104, the municipal governing body of any city of the second class or incorporated town may provide by ordinance the procedure for making all purchases.

2. (2)

   1. (A)

      1. (i) Except as provided under § 14-58-104, in a city of the first class where the amount of expenditure for any purpose or contract exceeds the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), the mayor or the mayor's authorized representative shall invite competitive bidding on the purpose or contract by legal advertisement in any local newspaper.

      2. (ii) Bids received pursuant to the advertisement shall be opened and read on the date set for receiving the bids in the presence of the mayor or the mayor's authorized representative.

      3. (iii) The mayor or the mayor's authorized representative shall have exclusive power to award the bid to the lowest responsible bidder, but may reject any and all bids received.

   2. (B) The governing body by ordinance may waive the requirements of competitive bidding in exceptional situations where this procedure is deemed not feasible or practical or as provided under § 14-58-104.

   3. (C) Cities of the first class, cities of the second class, and incorporated towns may accept competitive bids in the following forms:

      1. (i) Written; or

      2. (ii) Electronic media.

(c)

1. (1) In a city of the first class, a city of the second class, or an incorporated town, the governing body by ordinance shall have the option to make purchases by participation in a reverse internet auction, except that purchases and contracts for construction projects and materials shall be undertaken pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section and § 22-9-203.

2. (2) The ordinance shall include, but is not limited to, the following procedures:

   1. (A) Bidders shall be provided instructions and individually secured passwords for access to the reverse internet auction by either the city or the town, or the reverse internet auction vendor;

   2. (B) The bidding process shall be timed, and the time shall be part of the reverse internet auction specifications;

   3. (C) The reverse internet auction shall be held at a specific date and time;

   4. (D) The reverse internet auction and bidding process shall be interactive, with each bidder able to make multiple bids during the allotted time;

   5. (E) Each bidder shall be continually signaled his or her relative position in the bidding process;

   6. (F) Bidders shall remain anonymous and shall not have access to other bidders or bids; and

   7. (G) The governing body shall have access to real-time data, including all bids and bid amounts.

3. (3) The governing body may create by an additional ordinance reverse internet auction specifications for the anticipated purchase of a specific item or purchase.

4. (4)

   1. (A) The governing body is authorized to pay a reasonable fee to the reverse internet auction vendor.

   2. (B) The fee may be included as part of the bids received during the reverse internet auction and paid by the winning bidder or paid separately by the governing body.

5. (5) The governing body retains the right to:

   1. (A) Refuse all bids made during the reverse internet auction; and

   2. (B) Begin the reverse internet auction process anew if the governing body determines it is in the best interest of the city or town.

(d) For purposes of this section:

1. (1) “Reverse internet auction” means an internet-based process in which bidders:

   1. (A) Are given specifications for items and services being sought for purchase by a municipality; and

   2. (B) Bid against one another in order to lower the price of the item or service to the lowest possible level; and

2. (2) “Reverse internet auction vendor” means an internet-based entity that hosts a reverse internet auction.