(1) General. This Section defines minimal purchases and the rules governing them. These purchases may only be made by Employees who have been authorized as stated in this Chapter.

(2) Applicability. This Section applies to the purchase of goods, supplies, materials, equipment or services, having a total value of not more than $5,000.00. So long as funds used for such purchases are part of the approved annual budget for the department, City Council approval of Minimal Purchases is not required.

(3) Who May Make Purchases. Only the Purchasing Agent, Department Heads and Employees designated by Department Heads shall make small purchases as defined in this Section.

(4) How Minimal Purchases Are Made. Minimal purchases may be made by any reasonable means. Documentation shall be retained by the purchaser to demonstrate reasonableness.

(5) Manipulation Prohibited. Purchases shall not be manipulated to fall within this Section. Without limitation, purchases shall not be artificially divided, such as by awarding numerous purchases to a single Person for substantially similar performances, or by dividing the work required for a single project solely for purposes of making use of this Section.