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Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
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Developing educational leaders in school operations
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Mandate Waivers
Back to Mandate Waivers Page
PDE-417 Pottsgrove School District
Section 2.
The Pottsgrove School District is requesting a waiver of the bid process to purchase used equipment for Operations and Maintenance. The district has been considering the purchase of a dump truck for grounds maintenance. We have located a used truck with a salt spreader, a snowplow, and a dump body, in excellent condition for $15,000. A new truck would cost about $40,400. (See the attached price sheet.)
There is another example whereby the District could have benefited from this waiver, but due to time constraints, will not be able to implement. The district is in need of portable classrooms. A neighboring school district has some for sale. However, we can only purchase portable classrooms using the bid process, which has prevented us from negotiating with the neighboring school district. This would have benefited the taxpayers of both school districts.
Section 3.
By waiving the requirement to bid for used equipment only, the school district could negotiate with sellers for used equipment that the district deems acceptable, saving the district considerable dollars over purchasing new equipment. Since most used equipment is relatively unique, developing bid specifications for a comparable piece of used equipment would be very difficult. In most cases, the piece of equipment would be sold to another purchaser before the lengthy process could be completed. Moreover, many times, sellers of such equipment would not be interested in being involved in such a process; it would be simpler for them to sell to the first person with cash on hand.
Section 4.
As explained in Section 3, the School District would benefit by saving time in the bid process. But more importantly, purchasing used equipment instead of new, when the equipment is deemed acceptable by the School District, can save significant tax dollars.
Section 6.
The district will obtain cost estimates of purchasing a new piece of equipment that would be substantially equivalent to the used piece. If the used equipment is less expensive and in good to excellent condition, the School District would purchase the used equipment.
PDE-417 Pottsgrove School District
Section 2.
The Pottsgrove School District is requesting a waiver of the bid process to purchase used equipment for Operations and Maintenance. The district has been considering the purchase of a dump truck for grounds maintenance. We have located a used truck with a salt spreader, a snowplow, and a dump body, in excellent condition for $15,000. A new truck would cost about $40,400. (See the attached price sheet.)
There is another example whereby the District could have benefited from this waiver, but due to time constraints, will not be able to implement. The district is in need of portable classrooms. A neighboring school district has some for sale. However, we can only purchase portable classrooms using the bid process, which has prevented us from negotiating with the neighboring school district. This would have benefited the taxpayers of both school districts.
Section 3.
By waiving the requirement to bid for used equipment only, the school district could negotiate with sellers for used equipment that the district deems acceptable, saving the district considerable dollars over purchasing new equipment. Since most used equipment is relatively unique, developing bid specifications for a comparable piece of used equipment would be very difficult. In most cases, the piece of equipment would be sold to another purchaser before the lengthy process could be completed. Moreover, many times, sellers of such equipment would not be interested in being involved in such a process; it would be simpler for them to sell to the first person with cash on hand.
Section 4.
As explained in Section 3, the School District would benefit by saving time in the bid process. But more importantly, purchasing used equipment instead of new, when the equipment is deemed acceptable by the School District, can save significant tax dollars.
Section 6.
The district will obtain cost estimates of purchasing a new piece of equipment that would be substantially equivalent to the used piece. If the used equipment is less expensive and in good to excellent condition, the School District would purchase the used equipment.