Doing Business with the District

Doing Business With the District

The School District of Lee County conducts formal solicitations in accordance with School Board Policy and applicable Florida Statutes to ensure fairness, transparency, open competition, and the best value for the District.

A formal solicitation is required when the total estimated cost of goods or services is $50,000 or greater. This threshold applies to the total anticipated expenditure of the District as a whole - not to individual schools, departments, locations, or companies. This means that purchases cannot be divided among multiple locations, companies, or smaller transactions to avoid the formal solicitation requirement.

If the combined annual need for a particular good or service across the District is expected to meet or exceed $50,000, the Procurement Department will issue a formal solicitation, such as an Invitation to Bid (ITB), Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Qualifications (RFQ), or Invitation to Negotiate (ITN). Formal solicitations are publicly advertised and provide all interested companies with an equal opportunity to compete. Awarded contracts may then be used by multiple schools and departments District-wide. This process ensures compliance with procurement regulations and promotes open competition, fiscal responsibility, and equitable access for all companies.

Bid Openings

All formal bid openings are public. There is no intent to make a determination of an award at the time of the bid opening. In compliance with Florida Statutes, bid prices are not disclosed at the bid opening, except for construction solicitations in compliance with Florida Statutes Chapter 287. All submittals are subject to evaluation by the District before a recommendation of an award is presented to the School Board.

All bids and proposals are subject to the Public Records Law and, as such, are accessible to interested parties pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

Awarded Vendors

Companies that have been awarded a contract and will be on campus when students are present are required to comply with the requirements of Florida Statutes, Section 1012.465.

Freight, Delivery Point and Documentation

All District purchases are considered F.O.B. destination unless indicated in writing by the District. Vendors may take specific exception and note the exception on written quotes or provide information with the solicitation response. The Purchase Order number should appear on all bills of lading and invoices.

Taxes

The School District of Lee County is exempt from sales and excise taxes imposed by the State or Federal Government.

Payments

With few exceptions, two copies of each invoice should reference both the purchase order number and the name of the ordering school or department. Invoices are mailed to:

The School District of Lee County
Accounts Payable Department
2855 Colonial Blvd.
Ft. Myers, FL 33966

Under normal circumstances, payments will be completed within 30 days of receipt of goods/services and a proper invoice. For questions or comments please call: 239.337.8523

Expanding Your Business After Being Awarded a Contract

Suppliers that are awarded a School District of Lee County contract have the opportunity to expand their business to other government agencies through the bid piggyback process.

• Awarded suppliers may provide the awarded goods or services to other Lee County government agencies, including the County and City governments, at the same terms and conditions as the District contract.

• Suppliers may also choose to expand their service offering to other counties such as Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Sarasota, and Manatee county government agencies, including their school district, county and city governments.

• Notify each agency’s Purchasing Department of the bid you were awarded, a description of your products/services, and your contact information. An email or postal letter are the best methods for this outreach.

• Other agencies may choose to piggyback the bid and purchase products in accordance with the same terms and conditions of the awarded contract. Their process must be followed to obtain approval to piggyback the bid.

Submit Consortium Bids

The School District of Lee County is now a proud member of BASPC, the Bay Area School Purchasing Consortium.

As a member of the BASPC, bids awarded by The School District of Lee County, or any participating district, may be extended to other participating BASPC members, if mutually agreed upon between the successful bidder(s) and a participating member of BASPC.

Awarded bids may be extended under the same conditions, for the same price, and for the same effective period as the District’s award.

This collaborative purchasing method increases the operating efficiency of multiple purchasing agencies and offers vendors the opportunity to expand their business base.

Consortium's Interlocal Agreement

The Bay Area Schools Purchasing Consortium (the "Consortium") was established in 1989 to form a cooperative purchasing organization for the purpose of maximizing the purchasing power of the following member School Boards for goods and services: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, Hernando, Orange, Osceola, and Volusia. This Interlocal Agreement, effective on the date fully executed by the undersigned Florida School Board, is entered into for the same purpose in compliance with &1001.42(25) and &163.01, Florida Statutes (F.S.), by the following current member School Boards: Brevard, Charlotte, Florida Virtual Schools, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole (the "Member(s)") and future participating Florida School Boards.

WHEREAS, each Member has determined that cooperative procurement strategies between like or similar agencies may lead to procurement efficiency and lower costs for common goods and services;

WHEREAS, each Member agrees to comply with applicable Florida State competitive solicitation requirements, identify qualified suppliers, commodities, goods, and services for Consortium competitive solicitation opportunities;

WHEREAS, each Member agrees to preserve the integrity of the procurement process and procurement profession by adhering to the highest ethical standards; and

WHEREAS, each Member intends to enter into this Interlocal Agreement in compliance with &1001.42(25), F.S., and &163.01, F.S. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as providing for a separate legal or administrative entity as contemplated under &163.01, F.S.

THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOW:

1. "Consortium" shall mean the Bay Area Schools Purchasing Consortium, as established pursuant to this agreement.
2. "Lead District" shall mean a Florida School Board that will conduct a joint competitive solicitation process on behalf of the Consortium.
3. "Purchasing Professional" shall mean the procurement representative designated to represent each Member in a proceeding of the Consortium.