Levy County commissioners push attorneys to revise procurement rules so local vendors can bid

Commissioners and members of the public on Feb. 3 pressed Levy County officials to change procurement procedures that they said funnel vehicle and equipment purchases to the Florida Sheriffs Association contract rather than opening opportunities for local vendors.

The call to act came after several commissioners raised concerns about the county’s repeated use of the sheriff’s contract. Linda Cooper, a local business owner who addressed the board during public comment, said the county has talked about fixing procurement for years and asked commissioners to make policy revisions a top priority. "Fix it," Cooper said, adding that county taxpayers and businesses need a real chance to bid on county purchases.

Why it matters: Commissioners said local businesses lose potential sales and the county loses perceived transparency when purchases go directly to cooperative contracts without a local bidding opportunity. Several board members said they want attorneys to examine whether the written procurement policy can be amended to allow more local participation while remaining compliant with state and cooperative-contract rules.

Staff response and constraints: Jesse, a county procurement staff member, told the board the county follows a written procurement policy. "When you send out that RFP, it don't just go to people in our county," Jesse said, explaining that a formal request for proposals can extend statewide or nationwide and can take months. He noted the Florida Sheriffs Association contract is a competitively procured cooperative that the county may use without issuing a new bid.

Board direction: Commissioners asked county attorneys and management staff to prioritize drafting revisions to the procurement manual so local vendors have clearer opportunities to compete where allowed. "We need to give our local vendors an opportunity," said Mister Chandler, a commissioner advocating change. Several commissioners said they would trust county management (referred to as Jason in the meeting) to bring a motion and work with attorneys to craft policy language.

Public comment and next steps: In public comment, Linda Cooper reiterated that local businesses must be allowed to bid even if they do not win, and she asked for a published priority list for the new attorney to address. County attorneys and staff said they will review the procurement policy and present options; commissioners agreed to make the review a priority but did not set a formal deadline.

The board’s action was limited to directing staff and attorneys to examine procurement policy; no ordinance or rule change was adopted at the meeting.