§ 2-3-1. Procurement guiding principles.

A.

General —When a procurement is conducted pursuant to the authority provided herein, that procurement should reflect adherence to the procurement guiding principles, set forth below. In the event that it does not so adhere to the procurement guiding principles, the procurement file shall be documented with a written determination setting forth the reason or reasons for the procurement's failure to meet any of the applicable procurement guiding principles.

B.

Procurement guiding principles.

1.

Except when the chief procurement officials determine otherwise, there are four (4) guiding principles that should be satisfied in an Horry County procurement for personal property, services, and improvements to real property. These four (4) principles are:

a.

Guiding Principle One—Satisfaction of Horry County's need —The result of the procurement should satisfy the Horry County purchasing agency's need.

b.

Guiding Principle Two—Best price or best value source selections —Depending on the circumstances involved in the acquisition, Horry County should conduct the procurement on a best price or best value award criteria basis.

c.

Guiding Principle Three—Price reasonableness —Unless the lowest price is the primary source selection criteria; a finding of price reasonableness must be made in order to award an Horry County contract or agreement.

d.

Guiding Principle Four—Maximum practicable competition —Horry County shall provide maximum practicable competition, when feasible, in all acquisition opportunities.

2.

Unless a procurement method specifically provides an exception to or deviation from the four (4) procurement guiding principles, each Horry County procurement should adhere to and be conducted in a manner consistent with the procurement guiding principles.