From paper clips to water management plans, Medford Water procures millions of dollars’ worth of goods and services every year. Solicitations are posted on the Bids, RFPs, and RFQs page as they become available.
In general, the procurement process is driven by the type of purchase or project and the cost.
- MATERIALS: Water works materials, water treatment chemicals, and vehicles (as budgeted) are procured annually. The type of solicitation depends on the value of the purchase: direct award up to $25,000; competitive quotations up to $250,000; solicitations above $250,000 are advertised and bid packets made available on the website.
- SERVICES: May be solicited through competitive bidding or a Request for Proposals.
- Request for Proposals (RFP) – Typically, Medford Water utilizes the RFP process when procuring professional services. The type of solicitation depends on the value of the contract: direct award up to $25,000; competitive proposals up to $250,000; public RFP process above $250,000. Public RFP documents are usually made available, at no charge, on the website.
- Qualifications-Based Selection (RFQ) – This type of procurement process was adopted in 2012 based on new Oregon contracting statutes. The type of solicitation depends on the value of the contract: direct up to $100,000; RFP process above $100,000. The terms of the contract are negotiated with the top-ranked proposer.
- PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS: The type of solicitation depends on the value of the contract: direct up to $25,000, competitive quotations up to $100,000, and formal bid process above $100,000. Prevailing Wage Rates are required on projects exceeding $50,000; bonds, retainage, and other requirements are per Oregon statutes. Public improvement projects may require pre-qualification of bidders by Medford Water.
Contract Bonds and Insurance Requirements
There are typically four types of bonds required for Medford Water construction contracts:
- Bid Bond
- Performance Bond
- Payment Bond
- Oregon Public Works Bond
Standard insurance provisions apply to all contracts; professional liability insurance is usually required on personal/consulting services contracts. Note: Bonds are rarely required on materials bids.
Procurement Statutes
Medford Water’s Contracting and Purchasing Regulations are based on the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) as they relate to the purchasing and contracting activities of public entities. These regulations along with the City Charter give the Board of Water Commissioners its purchasing and contracting authority.
Subscribe to the website (by clicking on “Subscribe” at the bottom of the webpage) or contact our Purchasing Department at 541-774-2459 to learn more about business opportunities.