(a) Professional services for a total contract amount, including all reasonably foreseeable change orders and modifications, less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) may be procured in any reasonable manner.

(b) Professional services for a total contract amount, including all reasonably foreseeable change orders and modifications, of between ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) require the solicitation of three (3) or more quotes with written documentation on an applicable purchasing form. If three (3) quotes cannot reasonably be obtained, a written justification must be documented on an applicable purchasing form.

(c) Professional services procured in an amount in excess of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) must be solicited by issuing a request for proposals. The request for proposals shall state, or incorporate by reference, all specifications and contractual terms and conditions to which a proposal must respond, and shall state the factors to be considered in evaluating proposals and the relative importance of those factors. Public notice of a request for proposals shall be published a minimum of two (2) times at least two (2) weeks prior to the date proposals are due in a newspaper of general circulation within the City and may be advertised in other appropriate forums. A request for proposals may be modified or interpreted only in written addenda.

(d) The City may negotiate with one (1) or more qualified and responsible proponents whose proposals are determined to be reasonably responsive to the request for proposals. Negotiations shall be used to clarify and assure full understanding of the requirements of the request for proposals. Proponents may be permitted to revise their proposals after submission and prior to award to obtain best and final offers. Proponents deemed eligible for negotiations shall be treated equally regarding any opportunity to discuss and revise proposals. Specific fee schedules shall be kept confidential until after the notice of intent to award is distributed.

(e) Awards shall be made by written notice to the qualified and responsible proponent whose final proposal is determined to be most advantageous to the City. No criteria other than those set forth in the request for proposals may be used in proposal evaluation. If the City Manager determines that it is in the best interest of the City to do so, the City may reject any and all proposals.

(f) Legal services may be procured by direct negotiation with an attorney or law firm qualified to undertake the type of legal assistance required subject to Council approval for services of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) or greater. Negotiations or contracts for the services of legal counsel shall be pursued by the City Attorney, or in the case of a conflict of interest, the City Council or City Manager.