Counties may procure road salt through an existing state or federal price contract. These contracts are competitively solicited by another governmental entity and made available for use by local governments. Utilizing these contracts can save time and administrative effort while still ensuring competitive pricing.

County officials should begin by reviewing available state or federal cooperative purchasing contracts to determine whether road salt is included.

This includes Kentucky state price contracts administered through the Commonwealth’s procurement system. Learn more here.

When reviewing available contracts, counties should confirm:

Product Availability

• Determine whether road salt or similar deicing materials are listed on the contract.
• Confirm the specifications and quality standards meet the county’s operational needs.

Pricing

• Review the contract price per ton and any additional costs such as delivery or minimum order quantities.
• Compare the contract price with current market conditions to ensure the pricing remains competitive.

Delivery and Logistics

• Confirm the vendor’s delivery schedule and capacity.
• Verify whether the contract includes delivery to county facilities or requires pickup.

Contract Terms

• Review any participation requirements, ordering procedures, and contract limitations.
• Confirm that the county is eligible to utilize the contract.

Advertisement Requirement

When purchasing through an existing state or federal price contract, the county is not required to advertise for bids because the competitive procurement process has already been conducted by the entity that established the contract.

This can significantly reduce the time required to procure salt, particularly when purchases must be made quickly in advance of winter weather.

Fiscal Court Approval

Even when using a cooperative or state price contract, the purchase must still receive approval from the Fiscal Court.

The approval process typically includes:

• Presentation of the recommended contract and pricing information
• Confirmation that the contract is competitively procured and available for county use
• A Fiscal Court vote authorizing the purchase

Following approval, the County Judge/Executive may execute the purchase or contract in accordance with county procedures.