19-260b. Same; duties; supplies and equipment; contracts; report; requisition for purchases; small purchases; bids. The county purchasing officer, by and in conjunction with the board of county commissioners, shall purchase all supplies and equipment and approve all contracts, service and supply agreements and all other transactions that necessitate expenditure of county funds for the county and for each and every office and department thereof, shall keep a true and accurate account of all purchases so made, and shall make a report upon request by the board of county commissioners to the board of all purchases made and entered into and the office or department for which made. Each and every officeholder and department head and each and every employee thereof in the county and the judge or judges of the district court in the county shall be required to make requisition for all purchases of supplies and equipment contracts, service and supply agreements and other transactions that necessitate the expenditure of county funds pertaining to their respective offices and departments through the office of the county purchasing officer in the form and manner prescribed by the board of county commissioners in conjunction with the county purchasing officer, except that the board of county commissioners may authorize such officeholders, department heads or employees to make emergency purchases or small purchases of less than $2,000 on the open market. The county purchasing officer shall purchase all supplies and equipment and negotiate all contracts, service and supply agreements and other transactions that necessitate the expenditure of any county funds in the amount of $2,000 or more on the basis of competitive bids, except that competitive bids need not be required for contractual services where no competition exists. Bids shall be based on at least three competitive bids when reasonably possible. All such contracts and purchases made under the provisions of this act, for which competitive bids are required, shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, taking into consideration conformity with the specifications, terms of delivery, and other conditions imposed in the call for bids. The county purchasing officer shall have the power to decide as to the lowest responsible bidder for such purchases, and the county purchasing officer may reject any or all bids.

The county purchasing officer is hereby authorized to maintain a stock room and stationery supply store of expendable items for immediate requisition as needed.

History: L. 1971, ch. 84, § 2; L. 1987, ch. 98, § 2; April 9.