To give local preference to businesses located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, when evaluating the lowest responsible, responsive bid or submittal for the purchase of goods and services, professional and construction-related services, in excess of $50,000 dollars or the current formal bidding threshold set by statute. The preference does not apply to goods or services exempted by statute as reflected in Policy 6320, or prohibited by Federal or State law, or other funding source restrictions.

Local business means the vendor has a valid business license, issued by a jurisdiction located in Miami-Dade County, with its headquarters, manufacturing facility, or locally-owned franchise located within the legal boundaries of Miami-Dade County, for at least twelve (12) months (or having a street address for at least twenty-four (24) months), prior to the bid or proposal opening date. Post office boxes are not verifiable and shall not be used for the purpose of establishing said physical address. In order to be considered for local preference, vendors must provide a copy of their business license and the local business affidavit of eligibility with their bid or proposal. A vendor who misrepresents the local preference status of its firm in a proposal or bid submitted to the School Board will lose the privilege to claim local preference status, and shall lose eligibility to claim local preference status for a period of one (1) year. The Superintendent may also recommend that the firm be referred for debarment in accordance with Policy 6320.04.

When a responsive, responsible non-local business submits the lowest price bid, and the bid submitted by one or more responsive, responsible local businesses is within five percent (5%) of the price submitted by the non-local business, then each of the aforementioned local businesses shall have the opportunity to submit a best and final bid equal to or lower than the amount of the low responsible, responsive bid submitted by the non-local business. Contract award shall be made to the responsive, responsible business submitting the lowest best and final bid. In the case of a tie bid in the best and final bid between the local businesses, the tie shall be broken as delineated in Policy 6320.

If following the completion of initial evaluations, a local firm has submitted a proposal and is competing with a non-local proposer(s), then the local vendor(s) shall have the opportunity to proceed to be considered for further evaluation provided the price is within five percent (5%) of the cost proposed by the non-local vendor, all other technical requirements being equal. In the case of a tie in the best and final proposal between a local business, the tie shall be broken as delineated in Policy 6320.

Local preference policy shall apply to services of which is subject to the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act, as delineated in F.S. 287.055. If two (2) firms, one local and one non-local are within five percent (5%) of each other’s total qualitative scores, and for design build solicitations, the adjusted low bid as defined in the corresponding implementing order, the local firm shall be ranked higher than the non-local firm in the final ranking. In case of a two-tiered evaluation process, the local preference shall also apply at the conclusion of the first tier to allow eligible local proposers within five percent (5%) of the points assigned to those recommended to participate in the second-tier evaluation.

The application of local preference to a particular purchase, contract, or category of contracts for which the Board is awarding authority may be waived upon written justification and recommendation by the Superintendent.

The preference established in this policy does not prohibit the right of the Board, or other authorized purchasing authority, from giving preference permitted by law in addition to the preference authorized in this policy.

The preference established in this policy does not prohibit the right of the Board, or other authorized purchasing authority, to compare quality or fitness for use of supplies, materials, equipment and services proposed for purchase and compare qualifications, character, responsibility and fitness of all persons, firms or corporations submitting bids or proposals.

Adopted 10/19/11