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 ofcounty commissioners, shall purchase all supplies and equipment andapprove all contracts, service and supply agreements and all othertransactions that necessitate expenditure of county funds for the countyand for each and every office and department thereof, shall keep a trueand accurate account of all purchases so made, and shall make a report uponrequest by the board of county commissioners to the board of all purchasesmade and entered into and the office or department for which made. Each andevery officeholder and department head and each and every employee thereofin the county and the judge or judges of the district court in the countyshall be required to make requisition for all purchases of supplies andequipment contracts, service and supply agreements and other transactionsthat necessitate the expenditure of county funds pertaining to theirrespective offices and departments through the office of the countypurchasing officer in the form and manner prescribed by the board of countycommissioners in conjunction with the county purchasing officer, exceptthat the board of county commissioners may authorize such officeholders,department heads or employees to make emergency purchases or smallpurchases of less than $2,000 on the open market. The countypurchasing officer shall purchase all supplies and equipment and negotiateall contracts, service and supply agreements and other transactions thatnecessitate the expenditure of any county funds in the amount of $2,000or more on the basis of competitive bids, except thatcompetitive bids need not be required for contractual services where nocompetition exists. Bids shall be based on at least three competitive bidswhen reasonably possible. All such contracts and purchases made under theprovisions of this act, for which competitive bids are required, shall beawarded to the lowest responsible bidder, taking into considerationconformity with the specifications, terms of delivery, and other conditionsimposed in the call for bids. The county purchasing officer shall have thepower 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 roomand stationery supply store of expendable items for immediate requisitionas needed.

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