A. The city manager, or designee, may at the city managers or designees discretion, authorize a pre-qualification screening for potential bidders on projects with an estimated value of two hundred fifty thousand dollars or more, or on any project where the city manager, or designee, determines special expertise, equipment or materials are required to properly complete the project.

B. All prospective bidders shall receive written notification within a reasonable period of time of the acceptance of their pre-qualification submittal or the disqualification of such submittal. Should a prospective bidder be disqualified in the pre-qualification process, that prospective bidder may appeal the decision to the city manager, or designee, upon written request setting forth the specific reasons for the appeal with the city clerk filed within seven working days of the mailing or delivery of the notice of disqualification. The city manager, or designee, shall hold a hearing within three working days of the filing of the notice of appeal and allow the appealing prospective bidder an opportunity to be heard on the disqualification. The appellant and city may present evidence, testimony and information relevant to the disqualification. The city manager or designee shall issue a written decision after the conclusion of the hearing and mail or cause to be delivered said decision to the appellant.

C. Should the prospective bidder be dissatisfied with the city managers or designees written decision the aggrieved bidder may appeal the same to the city council by filing a written notice of appeal setting forth the specific reasons for the appeal with the city clerk within five days of the mailing or delivery of the decision by the city manager, or designee. The city council shall hold a hearing on the disqualification within three weeks, or as soon thereafter as possible, of receipt of the notice of appeal. Pending the hearing before the city council, the decision of the city manager, or designee, shall remain in full force and effect. Should the decision of the city manager, or designee, be reversed or revised by the city council, the decision shall take effect as of the date of the city councils decision and shall not be retroactive.

D. The decision of the city council shall be final. Such decision shall be mailed or delivered to all parties.

E. To the extent allowed by law, the information submitted by prospective bidders shall remain confidential except on appeals to the city council where information used to decide the appeal will become public. (Ord. 4027 § 1, 2001)