Appendix 26. Hire Corpus Christi First.

(a)

In order to maximize the effectiveness of local tax dollars by ensuring a portion of citizens' tax dollars remain in the local economy for economic benefit of the citizens by using all available legal opportunities to contract with local businesses, city department directors and purchasing officials have a duty to grant a preference to local businesses unless doing so would violate the law or be contrary to the best interests of the City. Nothing in this section prohibits the city from rejecting any or all bids.

(b)

Definitions .

Bid means any procurement method governed by Texas state law.

Local area means within the Corpus Christi city limits.

Local business means a business with a principal place of business in the local area.

Principal place of business means a business headquarters or an established place of business within the city limits (local area) from which one (1) or more of the entity's workforce are regularly based, and/or from which a business conducts a substantial part of its operations or performs a substantial role in a commercially useful function. A local place of business used solely as a post office box, mail drop or telephone message center or any combination thereof, with no other substantial work function, may not be construed as a principal place of business.

(c)

Purchases of real property or personal property that is not affixed to real property .

(i)

In purchasing any real property or personal property that is not affixed to real property, if the City receives one (1) or more bids from a bidder whose principal place of business is in the local area and whose bid is within three (3) percent of the lowest bid price received by the City from a bidder who is not a resident of Corpus Christi, the City shall enter into a contract with the lowest bidder whose principal place of business is in the local area, as the city council of the City of Corpus Christi hereby determines that the local lowest bidder offers the City of Corpus Christi the best combination of contract price and additional economic development opportunities for the City created by the contract award, including the employment of Corpus Christi residents and increased tax revenues to the City.

(ii)

This section does not prohibit the City from rejecting any or all bids.

(iii)

Nothing in this section may be construed to require the City to enter into a contract with a bidder that is not a responsible bidder.

(d)

Purchases of real property, personal property that is not affixed to real property, or services of less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) except for construction services or professional services subject to Chapter 2254 of the Texas Government Code .

(i)

In purchasing any real property, personal property that is not affixed to real property, or services other than construction services or professional services that are subject to Chapter 2254 of the Texas Government Code, as amended, if the City receives one (1) or more competitive sealed bids from a bidder whose principal place of business is in the local area and whose bid is within five (5) percent of the lowest bid price received by the City from a bidder who is not a resident of Corpus Christi, the City shall enter into a contract for purchases in an amount of less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) with the lowest bidder whose principal place of business is in the local area, as the City Council of the City of Corpus Christi hereby determines that the local lowest bidder offers the City of Corpus Christi the best combination of contract price and additional economic development opportunities for the City created by the contract award, including the employment of Corpus Christi residents and increased tax revenues to the City.

(ii)

This section does not prohibit the City from rejecting any or all bids.

(iii)

Nothing in this section may be construed to require the City to enter into a contract with a bidder that is not a responsible bidder.

(iv)

This section does not apply to the purchase of telecommunications services or information services, as those terms are defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 153.

(e)

Requests for city council determination .

(i)

A department director or purchasing official may request that city council consider and determine whether to grant a preference to a local business under this section for any reason.

(ii)

A department director or purchasing official has a duty to request that city council consider and determine whether to grant a preference to a local business if the department director or purchasing official finds that to grant a local preference under this section could be contrary to the intent of this policy.

(Ord. No. 029532, § 2, 6-19-2012)