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Old Florida Outdoor Festival Purchases Ignored City Rules

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The City of Apopka made more than $200,000 in Old Florida Outdoor Festival purchases that ignored the City's own purchasing rules, according to documents reviewed by The Apopka Voice.

The City of Apopka Procurement Policy requires sealed bids on all purchases over $25,000. Such purchases must also be approved, in advance, by the City Council.

The City made at least 3 purchases in excess of $25,000 for the Festival:

  • Tent and Table Rental: $29,915
  • Sound and Lighting Services: $44,999
  • Musical Talent: $99,300

A review of the City Council minutes revealed that none of the purchases were approved, in advance, by the City Council. Documents provided by the City in response to The Apopka Voice's Public Records request indicated no sealed-bids were received by the City for the purchases that exceeded $25,000.

The City Procurement Guidelines also require three written quotations for any purchases that exceed $2,500.

The City made at least 4 purchase exceeding $2,500 (but less than $25,000):

  • Orlando Fun Crew: $5,000
  • Innovative Party Rentals: $5,750
  • Cox Events Group: $12,000
  • Dock Dogs: $8,500

There are exceptions in the City's Policy that allow for "no-bid" situations, but those situations must be properly documented and approved by the City Administrator. The Apopka Voice was not shown any documents justifying any of the purchases being made without competitive bids.

There is no provision in the City's Procurement Policy to allow for any purchase over $25,000 to not have prior approval by the City Council. The Apopka Voice has reviewed the minutes of all City Council meetings and found no approval for any purchase relating to the Old Florida Outdoor Festival.

Late yesterday The Apopka Voice began an email exchange regarding the 2016 Old Florida Outdoor Festival purchases with Robert Sargent, Public Information Officer for the City of Apopka. As of 4:45 PM today the City had not responded to the following questions:

“Were any of the seven 2016 Old Florida Outdoor Festival purchases exempt from the City’s Procurement Policy? If yes, why?”


 

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