I. PURPOSE

To give a local preference to businesses located in Shelby County, Tennessee for the purchase of supplies, materials, equipment, and services.

II. SCOPE

This policy applies to District level contracts with a total dollar purchase amount of $10,000 or more.

III. DEFINITION

1. Local Preference Purchasing means giving preference to businesses located within Shelby County, Tennessee in the purchase of personal property, materials, and contractual services and in constructing improvements to real property or to existing structures.

2. Local Business means a vendor or contractor who holds a valid license to do business in Shelby County, Tennessee; has a street address within the limits of said locality for a continuous period of at least six (6) months prior to bid or proposal opening date; and has proof that Shelby County Personal Taxes are current (applies to local businesses who have been doing business in Shelby County, Tennessee for a year or more).

IV. POLICY STATEMENT

The Shelby County Board of Education recognizes that a significant amount of funds are spent on purchasing personal property, materials, and contractual services and in constructing improvements to real property or to existing structures. The Board also recognizes that dollars used in making purchases are derived largely from revenues generated from businesses located within Shelby County, Tennessee. The Board believes that funds generated in the community should be placed back into the local economy. Therefore, it is the policy of Shelby County Board of Education to provide a preference to local businesses in procurement transactions whenever the application of such a preference is reasonable in light of the dollar-value of proposals received in relation to such expenditures.

In the bidding of, or letting for procurement of supplies, materials, equipment and services, with a total price of ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars or more, if the lowest responsive bidder is a regional or nonlocal business, then all bids received from Local Businesses are decreased by five (5) percent. The original bid is not changed; the five (5) percent is calculated only for the purpose of determining the Local Preference. The Local Preference cost differential is not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00).

In the case of request for proposals, letters of interest, best evaluated bids, qualifications or other solicitations and competitive negotiation and selection in which objective factors are used to evaluate the responses, Local Businesses will be assigned five (5) percent of the total evaluation points up to a maximum of five (5) points.

In the event of a tie between a local and non-local business, favor shall be given to the Local Business and a coin toss method will be used to break ties between two (2) or more local businesses meeting said specifications.

Exceptions
This preference shall not apply to purchases or contracts that are funded in whole or in part by a governmental entity if the laws, regulations or policies governing such funding prohibit application of the Local Preference; when exigent emergency conditions or noncompetitive situations exist; and when a particular purchase, contract, or category of contracts for which SCS is the awarding authority is waived upon written justification and recommendation of the Board.

Restrictions
The Local Preference shall apply to District level purchases only. The preference shall apply to new contracts for supplies, materials, equipment, and services first solicited after January 29, 2013.

V. RESPONSIBILITY

1. The "users" of services are responsible for furnishing an objective evaluation of their needs and for identifying the specifications of the services to be delivered.

2. The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for developing final specifications and obtaining all bids, requests for proposals, and contracted service agreements.

3. The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for ensuring that all services have been properly approved and all procedures followed before signing contractual agreements.

4. The Superintendent is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy.