§ 2-95. Purchasing director.

(a)

Appointment. The purchasing director shall be appointed by the county administrator in accordance with the personnel policies and laws in effect. The purchasing director shall have relevant, recent experience in public procurement and in the large-scale procurement of supplies, services, or construction, and shall be a person with demonstrated executive and organizational ability.

(b)

Powers and duties. The director shall direct and supervise all county purchasing functions provided for in this division, shall perform all duties required by law and shall have the powers and duties prescribed by this division. The director may appoint a designee or designees to perform any of the director's powers and duties set out in this division.

(c)

Scope of purchasing authority. The director shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)

Purchase or contract. The director shall perform the duties specified in this division in connection with all purchases or contracts including, but not limited to, for all materials, supplies, equipment, construction and contractual services needed by any using agency which derives its support wholly or in part from the county. The term "contract" also means purchase orders and agreements utilized by the county to bind the parties to a specific purchase. The purchasing director shall approve all purchase orders, regardless of amount, for all goods and services procured as authorized by this division.

(2)

Exceptions prohibited. The authority of the director to negotiate all purchases for all using agencies shall not be abridged, except as required by law.

(d)

Other powers and duties. In addition to any other powers and duties conferred by this division, the director shall:

(1)

Minimum expenditure. Act to procure for the county the highest quality supplies and contractual services meeting the needs of the county in a cost-efficient manner, while protecting the county's interest in procuring quality supplies and contractual services.

(2)

Encourage competition. Endeavor to obtain as full and open competition as possible on all purchases and sales. All specifications shall seek to promote overall economy for the purposes intended and encourage competition in satisfying the county's needs, and shall not be unduly restrictive.

(3)

Policies and procedures. Promulgate and amend, when necessary, policies and procedures governing the procurement of goods and services in accordance with and within the scope of this division. Copies of the resulting policies and procedures shall be distributed to the using agencies and available for review in the office of the purchasing director.

(4)

Purchasing analysis. Keep informed of current developments in the field of purchasing, prices, market conditions and new products. Secure for the county the benefits of research conducted in the field of purchasing by other governmental jurisdictions, national technical societies, trade associations having national recognition and private businesses and organizations.

(5)

Purchasing manual. Prescribe and maintain a purchasing manual for all using agencies. The purchasing manual shall include all approved policies and procedures promulgated by the purchasing director.

(6)

Forms. Prescribe and maintain such forms as shall be found reasonably necessary to the operation of this division.

(7)

Bulk purchases. Exploit the possibilities of buying in bulk to take full advantage of discounts.

(8)

Tax exemptions. Act to procure for the county all tax exemptions to which it is entitled.

(9)

Cooperation. Cooperate with using agencies to secure for the county the maximum efficiency in budgeting and accounting.

(Ord. No. 15-26, § 2, 12-15-15)