Local Purchasing Preferences - Columbus, OH

Columbus grants a 5%  preference to local businesses for the procurement of supplies valued at $20,000 or less, other than construction and professional services, and a 1% preference to local businesses otherwise.

Excerpts from the Columbus City Code: 

329.04 Definitions.

(k) Local Bidder. An individual or business entity: (1) whose principal place of business is located within the corporation limits of the city of Columbus or the county of Franklin as registered in official documents filed with the Secretary of State, state of Ohio, or Franklin County recorder's office; or (2) who holds a valid vendor's license which indicates that its place of business is located within the corporation limits of the city of Columbus or county of Franklin.

329.06 Competitive sealed bidding.

(a) The establishment of universal term contracts and/or the procurement of all materials, supplies and equipment shall be conducted under this section as follows:

(8) In determining the lowest bid for purposes of awarding a contract under this section, a local bidder shall receive a credit equal to one (1) percent of the lowest bid submitted by a non local bidder or twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), whichever is less.

(b) The procurement of all service contracts except construction, custodial, landscaping, guard and security services, cleaning and recycling services, and professional services shall be conducted under this section as follows:

(8) In determining the lowest bid for purposes of awarding a contract under this section, a local bidder shall receive a credit equal to one (1) percent of the lowest bid submitted by a non local bidder or twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), whichever is less.

(c) The procurement of all custodial, landscaping, guard and security service, cleaning and recycling service contracts shall be conducted under this section as follows:

(9) In determining the lowest bid for purposes of awarding a contract under this section, a local bidder, as defined in Section 329.04(k), shall receive credit equal to one (1) percent of the lowest bid submitted by a non-local bidder or twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), whichever is less.

329.07 Exceptions to competitive sealed bidding.

(3) In determining the lowest bid for purposes of awarding a contract under this section, a local bidder (as defined in Section 329.04(k)), shall receive credit equal to five (5) percent of the lowest bid submitted by a non-local bidder, where bids do not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00).