Other LanguagesUnder the provisions of RCW 35.23.352, a city or town of the second, third or fourth class is required to call for bids in the manner prescribed therein where the city or town seeks (a) to award a contract for liability and casualty insurance coverage, the anticipated annual premiums for which will exceed $2,000, and (b) to award a contract for the codification of municipal ordinances, the anticipated cost of which will exceed $2,000.
(1) Under the provisions of RCW 35.23.352, as amended by § 1, Chapter 41, Laws of 1977, Ex.Sess., a second, third or fourth class city may still construct a public work or improvement having an estimated cost in excess of $5,000 through the use of its own labor force where the city has first called for bids but no responsive bids have been received; however, such a city may no longer construct a public work or improvement having an estimated cost in excess of $5,000 through the use of its own labor force where bids have been received but all such bids have been rejected. (2) Because code cities are governed by the same legal rules as apply to second, third and fourth class cities in the construction of public works or improvements, the foregoing conclusions are equally applicable to the ability of a code city to construct a public work or improvement through the use of its own labor force. (3) For the same reason a code city, after calling for bids and rejecting them, may not negotiate a contract for a public work or improvement without any further call for bids.
Because of RCW 35A.40.200, the competitive bidding requirements of RCW 35.23.352 are applicable to contracts executed by a city operating under the optional municipal code when engaged in making public improvements or performing public works; however, these requirements are not applicable to the contracts of such a city for professional or personal services such as those of an insurance broker.
Unless restricted by the provisions of it own charter, a code city may, but is not required to call for bids on real property owned by it before selling such property either to a private party or to any other purchaser.
In any county which has, pursuant to RCW 36.32.240, established a county purchasing department, that department is to purchase all election supplies for the county auditor; such purchases may be made only after a call for competitive bids to the extent required by RCW 36.32.240 and 36.32.250.
School districts may, but are not required to advertise for bids under chapter 224, Laws of 1961 (RCW 28.58.135), when purchasing public liability or fire insurance policies even though the anticipated premiums may exceed $2500.
A school district of the first class may, but is not required to, advertise for bids in purchasing a contract of public liability or fire insurance, although the anticipated premiums may exceed $1,000.00. The board of directors of a district must act in good faith in awarding the contract for insurance.