Continuing contracts, including lease purchase contracts, installment purchase contracts, and straight leases, provide flexibility to meet the school district’s needs within its financial resources. The Wilkes County Board of Education encourages the superintendent and finance officer to consider the viability of such options in making purchasing decisions as permitted by state law.
The following procedures and standards will be used in making decisions to enter continuing contracts:
• In addition to cash price bids, the school district may solicit financing proposals from the equipment vendors or inform equipment vendors that the purchase of the equipment is contingent on obtaining satisfactory financing.
• The finance officer or other designee of the superintendent will analyze the fiscal impact of any continuing contracts, including the amount of interest that will be paid and the useful life of the equipment or goods before entering into such a contract.
• Straight leases and financing services are not subject to competitive bidding; however, a reasonable effort will be made to obtain a competitive price and good value.
• Items on state contract may be purchased off contract if documented to be of lesser price or higher quality.
• Guaranteed energy savings contracts must be entered into following the procedures established in G.S. 143-64.17A to -64.17E and are exempt from otherwise applicable bidding requirements.
• Policy 6420, Contracts with the Board of Education, must be followed for all continuing contracts.
• The finance officer will report to the Board of Education on an annual basis on the overall debt load incurred through continuing contracts for goods and services (other than for employee salaries) which specifies the principal, interest paid and amount of outstanding obligations.
• The local Board of Education attorney should review all continuing contracts.
Legal Reference: G.S. 143-64.17A-E; 115C-47(28), -441(c), -441(c1), -432(b)(4), -528, -530; 158, art. 8; 160A- 19, -20
Cross Reference: Contracts with the Board of Education (policy 6420), Planning for Facility Needs (policy 9000)
Adopted: January 9, 2006