Iowa Admin. Code r. 265-15.1
Items, including goods or services, that are expected to cost in the aggregate in excess of $50,000 will be obtained as a result of a formal or informal competitive bidding process conducted by the authority, or through the department of administrative services whenever such procurement is in the best interests of the authority, as determined by the authority. Items, including goods or services, expected to cost $50,000 or less in the aggregate may be obtained in any manner deemed appropriate by the authority.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the authority may exempt any item from competitive bidding if the item is noncompetitive or is purchased in quantities too small to be effectively purchased through competitive bidding; if there is an immediate or emergency need for the item; if the purchase of the item facilitates compliance with set-aside procurement provisions; or if the executive director of the authority determines, in the executive director's sole discretion, that the authority's best interests will be served by exemption from the bidding process.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 265-15.1