Purchasing

Mission Statement:
To provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs, and promote a safe and healthy community. NPI Award

 

 

Awards and Recognition

  • 1998 National Association of Counties "Achievement Award"
  • 2000 National Institute of Governmental Purchasing "Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award"
  • 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 National Purchasing Institute "Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award"
  • 2003, 2005 and 2007 Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers "Excellence in Public Procurement Award"

About
The role of the Purchasing Division is to assist county bureaus and divisions in acquiring goods, services, or construction. We are generally the place of initial contact for both agencies and contractors to acquire goods or services.

The Purchasing Division oversees a purchasing process that assures impartial and equitable evaluation of bids and proposals from vendors and helps agencies to establish fair and reasonable contracts. In the event of a contract dispute or claim resolution, the division acts as mediator.

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June 2, 2011 CS/HB 7223 providing exemptions to the "Florida Sunshine Law" took effect:

To summarize-

1. Public Records Exemption- s.119.071, FS.

  • Defines Competitive Solicitation to include “the process of requesting and receiving sealed bids, proposals, or replies…regardless of the method of procurement” and removes any reference to ITBs, RFPs, and ITNs.
  • Expands the public records exemption to extend the existing exemption for sealed bids and replies (to ITB or RFP) from 10 to 30 days and for sealed responses (to ITN) from 20 to 30 days (OR until the notice of decision is issued, whichever happens first).
  • Maintains the exempt status of rejected bids/proposals/replies (in the event a solicitation is reissued) for up to but no longer than 12 months after issuing a notice of rejection. (Within the 12 month time frame, the bids/proposals/replies may remain exempt until the reissued solicitation is withdrawn or a notice of decision is issued.)

2. Public Meeting Exemption- s.286.0113, FS.

  • Defines Competitive Solicitation (see a. above) and Team (i.e. selection committee).
  • Expands the public meeting exemption to include any portion of a meeting where the team is negotiating with a vendor (oral presentation, question and answer, etc.) OR where the team is discussing negotiation strategies.
  • Expands the (public records) exemption to extend the existing exemption for recordings of exempt meetings AND any records presented at the meeting from 20 to 30 days (OR until the notice of decision is issued, whichever happens first).
  • Maintains the exempt status of the recordings AND records (in the event a solicitation is reissued) for up to but no longer than 12 months after issuing a notice of rejection. (Within the 12 month time frame, the recordings may remain exempt until the reissued solicitation is withdrawn or a notice of decision is issued.)