County to raise micro‑purchase threshold to $15,000 and add procurement tools, staff say

County procurement staff outlined proposed changes to purchasing thresholds and tools designed to speed routine purchases while preserving vendor fairness and taxpayer protection. Jordan (presenter) said: "Previously, it was $5,000. We've increased that to $15,000 to better match the federal micro purchase standard," and described a per‑vendor annual cap of $50,000 for micro purchases to prevent circumvention.

Staff proposed raising the three‑quote band up to $150,000, adding a simplified RFP option, a best‑value justification tool, and a process for elevated review on purchases over $150,000. Commissioners discussed how multi‑year contracts should be treated and whether thresholds should move further toward federal levels; staff said they will review edge cases and return with guidance for contracting over multiple years.