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Series 3000

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Replaced with Policy Code DJ, Purchasing Procedures
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PURCHASING PROCEDURES

BOARD POLICY 3320

Tucson Unified School District No. 1 shall seek to maximize value, to the extent practicable for each transaction.

The Tucson Unified School District No. 1 shall seek competitive bids or quotations for all purchases in accordance with the requirements of the appropriate sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the Arizona Department of Education School District Procurement Rules, and the Uniform System of Financial Records.

Administrative regulations prescribing purchasing procedures for Tucson Unified School District No. 1 shall be consistent with the appropriate sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the Arizona Department of Education School District Procurement Rules, and the Uniform System of Financial Records.

Bids, proposals, documented sole source and emergency procurements and awards may be approved by the Chief Business Officer, Director of Purchasing, Purchasing Manager or Contract Manager when the transaction is less than $250,000. The Director of Purchasing, Purchasing Manager or Contract Manager may sign procurement agreements on behalf of Tucson Unified School District No. 1, when the agreements comply with applicable rules, regulations, statutes, and policies. The Purchasing Department shall prepare written determinations as required by the Arizona Department of Education School District Procurement Rules prior to issuing solicitations for multi-step sealed bidding, competitive sealed proposals, and multi-term contracts, or non-construction contracts requiring bid or contract security.

The Purchasing Department representative most closely involved in the procurement shall serve as the District representative for protests and claims on solicitations and contracts, except those for construction, construction-related professional services and the Food Services Department. The Director of Engineering and Planning Services shall serve as the District representative for construction and construction-related professional services contract protests and claims. The Food Services Purchasing Manager shall serve as the District representative for Food Services Department contract protests and claims.

Construction and Construction-related Professional Services Contracts
The Director of Engineering and Planning Services shall serve as the procurement officer for construction and construction-related professional services contracts. Construction-related professional services shall include, but are not limited to architects, engineers, geologists, surveyors, and applicable testing laboratories. The procurement officer for construction and construction-related services is authorized to develop, evaluate and recommend award of applicable solicitations, and to approve, sign and administer applicable contracts and change orders in accordance with this Governing Board Policy. The authority to approve and sign contracts and change orders shall not extend to bids, proposals or purchase orders.

Food Services Fund Purchases
The Director of the Food Services Department shall serve as the procurement officer for food services fund purchases. The procurement officer for food services fund purchases is authorized to make purchases in amounts below the thresholds applicable to the Arizona Department of Education School District Procurement Rules. All other food services fund purchases shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Arizona Department of Education School District Procurement Rules and this Governing Board Policy. All food services fund purchases shall also comply with the requirements of the Federal Child Nutrition Programs.

Purchase Orders
A properly executed purchase order shall be issued for the acquisition of all goods, personal services and construction.

Purchase orders may be signed only by authorized staff which include the Director of Purchasing, Purchasing Manager, Contract Manager, Purchasing Department Procurement Specialists, Chief Business Officer, or Superintendent. Purchasing Department Procurement Specialists are authorized to sign purchase orders for purchases up to $2,500, unless specific prior written approval for larger amounts has been obtained from the Director of Purchasing.

Food Services Department purchase orders may be signed by the Director of Food Services, or designee. Food Services Department designees are the Food Services Purchasing Manager and Administrative Coordinator of Central Operations.

Further delegation is not allowed.

Selection of Architects, Engineers and other Professionals
It is the policy of the Governing Board that architects, engineers and other professionals shall be selected through competitive practices and procedures, to the extent practicable for each transaction. Procurement of the services of architects, engineers and other professionals shall be in accordance with the requirements of the appropriate sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the Arizona Department of Education School District Procurement Rules, and the Uniform System of Financial Records.

Purchasing for Personal Use
No employee may purchase goods or services for personal use in the name of Tucson Unified School District No. 1.

No employee may sell goods or services for private gain to students or other employees on school premises or via District computer networks.

No employee may use his/her position with the District to solicit, directly or indirectly, the purchase of supplies, services or equipment at special discounts for private use from any school district vendor.

Instructional Technology Acquisitions of English and Spanish Software, Courseware and Materials
The Tucson Unified School District No. 1 is dedicated to identifying and providing appropriate instructional technology for the immediate and long term needs of its students. Among these are the needs for English and Spanish materials to provide basic instruction in the child's native language, enrichment in the child's second language, compliance with the State of Arizona mandate for second language instruction and support for the District's TUSD 2000 and Beyond goal that each student will "demonstrate mastery of two languages" by time of graduation.

In its technology acquisitions, the District shall develop bid specifications which demonstrate the District's commitment to acquisition of comparable English and Spanish language components.

TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Tucson, Arizona

Adopted by Board: December 18, 1984
Revised by Board: December 2, 1986
Revised by Board: May 23, 1989
Revised by Board: February 25, 1991
Revised by Board: May 7, 1991
Revised by Board: August 6, 1991
Revised by Board: January 19, 1999
Revised: November 18, 2003
Replaced with Policy Code DJ, Nov. 9, 2004

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