CCO_Ordinance_-_5912_-_21-059_-_APPROVED_-_1-3-2022_-_LOCAL_VENDOR_PREFERENCE.pdf

This is a City Ordinance document (Ordinance 5912, CCO 21-059) approved January 3, 2022, by the City of Lakeland, Florida, establishing local vendor preference policies for procurement activities. The ordinance implements preference provisions for vendors meeting local business criteria, affecting how the City evaluates and awards contracts across its procurement processes. The ordinance applies to all City solicitations unless specifically exempted by state law, federal requirements, or City Charter provisions. The preference mechanism applies to both traditional municipal services and specialized enterprise operations including utilities, airport operations, and venue management. Implementation of the local vendor preference affects evaluation criteria and potentially contract award determinations for responsive and responsible bidders.

The ordinance establishes scoring adjustments or preference points favoring local vendors as defined by City criteria in competitive sealed bidding and request for proposal processes. The local vendor preference applies regardless of funding source, including general fund and enterprise fund operations. The preference provision is designed to support local economic development while maintaining the City's ability to attract qualified service providers. Exemptions from the local vendor preference may be granted when federal or state law prohibits its application, when no local vendors submit responsive bids, or when the City determines application would not serve the public interest. The ordinance does not establish pricing terms or set-asides but rather modifies the evaluation framework for all applicable City procurements to favor local vendors meeting established criteria.