(1) Following the evaluation of the bids submitted, the Finance Director or the Public Works Director shall submit a recommendation to the City Council for the award of the contract.

(2) Notice of the award hearing shall be published in the agenda of the City Council. The name and bid amount of the successful bidder shall be available in the Office of the City Clerk at least one day prior to the City Council meeting on the award of the contract.

(3) Bidders and taxpayers wishing to formally protest the award of a bid must make their protests in writing to the City Clerk or personally before the City Council at the actual City Council meeting being held on the award of the contract.

(4) After hearing all protests, the City Council shall make its decision during said meeting. Award of the contract shall be to the bidder whose bid is most favorable to the city with price and the other factors identified in the Invitation to Bid being considered.

(5) The Council shall have the right in all cases to reject all bids, and nothing herein is to be considered to compel the City Council to make an award of a contract.

(6) The decision of the City Council on the award of a contract is final and not subject to appeal, provided, in the case of federally funded or Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)-grant funded procurements, the vendor may further file a protest of the decision that resulted in the appeal process to the federal funding agency or WSDOT, as applicable. The protest shall include a detailed description of the facts and disagreement that form the basis of the bidder’s or contractor’s protest and supporting documentation and the specific decision requested. (Ord. 23-14 §2, 2023; Ord. 17-18 §4, 2017; Ord. 04-18 §9, 2004).