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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hello Eric:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">There is no longer a legal requirement in Michigan for municipal entities to engage in bidding. However, it is considered a good practice, especially for large purchases, and some municipalities have local
requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">There is no magic number of required bids.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">You may wish to check your municipality(ies) and see if they have any bid requirements and use their requirements as your guide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Many bid processes go by date, and whatever bids are submitted by the end of the RFP process are the ones considered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The MML has an informative chapter that includes the bidding process.<br>
</span><a href="http://www.mml.org/pdf/resources/publications/ebooks/HMO_by_chapter/CH%2020%20Purchasing.pdf">CH 20 Purchasing.pdf (mml.org)</a><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Whatever your library decides, you will want to be sure all parameters are clearly listed in your bidding policy and procedures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As always, if you have any questions about appropriate procedure, contact your library’s lawyer for advice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I hope this is helpful!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Clare<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Library Law Consultant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Library of Michigan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:MembielaC@michigan.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">MembielaC@michigan.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">517-335-8132<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The research and resources above are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue
or problem.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Edwardian Script ITC";color:black">“</span><span style="font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Edwardian Script ITC";color:black">The dissemination of ideas can accomplish nothing if otherwise willing addressees
are not free to receive and consider them. It would be a barren marketplace of ideas that had only sellers and no buyers.”
</span><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">Lamont v. Postmaster General</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT">, 381 U.S. 301</span><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Eric Hansen via Michlib-l<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 24, 2023 8:44 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> michlib-l@mcls.org; public-directors-smlc@googlegroups.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Michlib-l] # of Bids Required for District Library<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<strong><span style="font-family:"sans-serif 10pt",serif;color:black">CAUTION: This is an External email. Please send suspicious emails to
</span></strong><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:abuse@michigan.gov"><span style="font-family:"sans-serif 10pt",serif">abuse@michigan.gov</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Hello,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">I have a question and I've had some trouble finding a good answer. I hope one of you can give me some guidance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">My Board wants to know if we are legally required to solicit a minimum number of bids for construction work. My approach when looking for a new vendor of any kind has been to contact a large number--- it's not very
difficult to transmit the same text to at least 5-10 different providers and compare their replies. But, my Board wants to know if there is a legal minimum for a district library.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Thank you for any insight, and have a great week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Eric Hansen</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
Director<br>
</span><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vicksburglibrary.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMembielaC%40michigan.gov%7C75a3e0ef7c4b453f8ca808dafe11a62e%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C638101649588475480%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IjRyxt%2Fpn%2Bjel2nY%2BDa0yLkRr87sw8R945ExElvCPhA%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Vicksburg
District Library</span></b></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:EHansen@VicksburgLibrary.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">EHansen@VicksburgLibrary.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">269-649-1648</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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