Overview of authority, duties, and procedures
§2-201 Procurement Services Department
The Procurement Services Department shall be headed by the Director of Procurement.
§2-202 Appointment and Qualifications
The Director of Procurement shall be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the County Administrator. The Director of Procurement shall be a person with demonstrated executive and organizational ability and have relevant experience in public procurement and the large-scale procurement of supplies, services, and construction.
§2-204 Authority of the Director of Procurement
(1) Central Procurement Officer of the County
The Director of Procurement shall serve as the central procurement officer of the County. In the absence of a duly appointed Director of Procurement, interim or otherwise, the County Administrator shall act as the central procurement officer of the County.
(2) Power to Adopt Operational Procedures
Consistent with the provisions of this Policy, the Director of Procurement may adopt operational procedures governing the internal functions of the Procurement Services Department.
(3) Power to Adopt Procurement Procedures
The Director of Procurement is authorized to promulgate and adopt procurement procedures, consistent with this Policy, governing the procurement of all supplies, services, and construction procured by the County, unless exempted pursuant to §1-601 (Exclusions from this Policy).
(4) Duties
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Policy, the Director of Procurement shall:
- (a) Direct and supervise the procurement of all supplies, services, and construction required by the County.
- (b) Establish and maintain program(s), as required, for training and support of Using Agencies with regard to procurement procedures and systems.
- (c) Establish and maintain program(s), as required, for the inspection, testing, and acceptance of supplies, services, and construction.
- (d) Manage and support vendor relationships including, but not limited to, outreach, vendor registration and administration, measuring and reporting vendor performance, training, and conflict resolution.
- (e) Ensure compliance with this Policy and the resulting procedures by reviewing and monitoring procurements conducted by any designee, department, agency, or official delegated authority under §2-205 (Delegation of Authority by the Director of Procurement).
§2-205 Delegation of Authority by the Director of Procurement
To the extent permitted by law, the County Administrative Code, any applicable Board policies and/or County Administrative Directives, and this Policy, the Director of Procurement may delegate authority to one (1) or more designees.
§2-301 Centralization of Procurement Authority
Except as otherwise provided in this Policy or specific delegation by the Board of County Commissioners, all rights, powers, duties, and authority relating to the procurement of supplies, services, and construction now vested in, or exercised by, any County department, agency, or official are hereby transferred to the Director of Procurement.
§2-302 Authority to Contract for Legal Services
No contract for legal services may be solicited or awarded without written approval of the County Attorney.
§2-303 Authority to Contract for Audit Services
With the exception of the County’s annual audit of the County’s financial statements and compliance audits mandated by state and federal regulatory agencies, no contract for audit services may be solicited or awarded without written approval of the County Internal Auditor.
§2-401 County Procurement Procedures
(1) Procurement Procedures
Procurement procedures shall be promulgated by the Director of Procurement to implement this Policy.
(2) Director of Procurement Shall Not Delegate Authority to Promulgate Procurement Procedures
The Director of Procurement shall not delegate his/her authority to promulgate procurement procedures.
(3) Procurement Procedures Shall Not Change Existing Contract Rights
No procedure shall change any commitment, right, or obligation of the County or of a contractor under a contract in existence on the effective date of such procedure.
§2-501 Collection of Data Concerning Public Procurement
The Director of Procurement shall cooperate with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Internal Auditor, and Director of Management & Budget in the preparation of statistical data concerning the procurement of all supplies, services, and construction. All Using Agencies shall furnish such reports as the Director of Procurement may require concerning usage, needs, and stocks on hand, and the Director of Procurement shall have authority to prescribe forms to be used by the Using Agencies in requisitioning, ordering, and reporting of supplies, services, and construction.
§2-601 Duties of the County Attorney
The County Attorney, or such attorney(s) as the County Attorney may designate, shall serve as legal counsel, and provide necessary legal services to the Director of Procurement.