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Section Two:  Definitions

2.1  The definition of a "Local Contractor/Vendor" shall mean:  a) any person, firm, partnership, company or corporation whose principal place of business in the sole opinion of the County, is located within the boundaries of Lee County, Florida; or b) any person, firm, partnership, company or corporation that has provided goods or services to Lee County on a regular basis for the preceding three (3) years, and that has the personnel, equipment and materials located within the boundaries of Lee County sufficient to constitute a present ability to perform the service or provide the goods; or c) any person, firm, partnership, company or corporation that qualifies as a "Local Business" under the terms of the Collier County Local Vendor Preference Program on or after the date Lee and Collier County enter an agreement extending reciprocity under their respective Local Vendor Preference Programs to the firms eligible for those programs in the adjoining county; or d) any person, firm, partnership, company or corporation that qualifies as a "Local Vendor" or similar term under the Local Vendor Preference Program of any county adjoining Lee County on or after the date Lee County and the adjoining county enter a reciprocity agreement that is substantially similar to any such agreement between Lee and Collier County.

Section Three - Qualification as a "Local Contractor/Vendor":

3.1  Potential contractors and/or vendors to Lee County who desire to be considered for the Local Bidder's Preference for Public Works Construction Services must submit sufficient information with their bid or quote to allow the Contracts Section to determine their eligibility for such consideration;

3.2  Qualification as a "Local Contractor/Vendor" shall be made on applications provided by the Public Works Department, Contracts Section.  The Contracts Section will evaluate, confirm and award the status of "Local Contractor/Vendor" to any qualifying business during the evaluation process.

3.3  Upon a finding by the County that the application is sufficient and meets the definitional criteria, the Contractor/Vendor will then be placed on a master list kept by the County, for a period of one (1) year.  

3.4  Except for Contractors/Vendors qualified under a Reciprocity Agreement as described above, only Contractors/Vendors who are awarded "Local Contractor/Vendor" status by the Contracts Section will be allowed to claim the Local Bidder's Preference as provided for by this Ordinance for any County Public Works procurement, either for goods or services.  The Contractor/Vendor qualification for a "Local Contractor/Vendor" designation shall not be considered as a basis for any Formal Protests of contract awards under the County's Formal Procurement Processes.