Tuolumne County Municipal Code Ch. 2.24 Purchasing Agent

Sections:

• 2.24.010

• Office established.

• 2.24.020

• General duties.

• 2.24.030

• Specific duties.

• 2.24.040

• Purchasing recycled materials.

• 2.24.050

• Local vendor price preference.

Section 25500 et sequentes of the Government Code, the office of purchasing agent is established. The county administrator or his/her designate shall be the purchasing agent. (Ord. 2090 § 2 (part), 1995).

agent shall have the duties and powers prescribed by laws of the state of California relating to county purchasing agents, by this chapter and by resolutions of the board of supervisors. He/she shall be the head of the purchasing department of the county and shall appoint the deputies, assistants, and other employees that from time to time are authorized by the board. He/she shall give the board and designated departments reports and information which the board from time to time requires.
He/she shall establish methods and procedures for the functioning of the purchasing department in an effective and economical manner. (Ord. 2090 § 2 (part), 1995).

agent shall:

A. Purchase for the county and its offices all materials, supplies, equipment, livestock and other personal property of whatever kind and nature. Except in cases of emergency or where the board has made other specific provision, no purchase of personal property by any person other than the purchasing agent shall bind the county or constitute a lawful charge against county funds; B. Rent for the county and offices, furnishings, equipment and livestock, except road equipment which the Public Works Director is authorized by law to rent; (Ord. 3398 § 1, 2021)

C. Negotiate and execute in the name of the county all equipment service contracts and lease-purchase agreements concerning personal property;

D. Be authorized to deem surplus and not required for public use any county personal property which has an original value of less than five thousand dollars per individual item. The purchasing agent may sell or otherwise dispose of such property without prior approval of the board of supervisors and without securing bids or advertising. For disposition of county personal property with an original value of five thousand dollars or more per individual item, prior approval from the board of supervisors shall be obtained. When purchasing personal property, the purchasing agent may accept advantageous trade-in allowances or exchanges for county personal property which has a scrap value as set forth in Section 25503 and is not further required for public use. All proceeds from sales pursuant to this subsection shall be paid into the county treasury for the use of the county. (Ord. 3398 § 2, 2021; Ord. 3263 §1, 2014)

E. Engage independent contractors to perform various services for the county and its offices, with or without the furnishing of materials, where the annual aggregate cost does not exceed the amount set forth in Section 25502.3 of the Government Code; provided, however, this subsection shall not apply to contracts to do work on the public roads of the county, contracts to print legal briefs or legal notices, contracts for reporters' services or transcripts, contracts for expert services to be rendered to the offices of the district attorney, county counsel or sheriff, contracts for election supplies, contracts for consultants and other experts employed directly by the board or contracts for other services which by law some other officer or body is specifically charged with obtaining; (Ord. 3398 § 3, 2021)

F. Engage independent contractors to construct, repair or furnish any building or structure enumerated in Section 20121 of the Public Contract Code when the estimated costs do not exceed the amount set forth in Section 20121; (Ord. 3398 § 4, 2021)

G. When specifically authorized by law, sell, lease or dispose of personal property of any special district and pay the proceeds into the treasury of the district or, if an exchange or trade is made, return the proceeds to the special district; (Ord. 3398 § 5, 2021)

H. Perform such other services as the board may require from time to time by resolution; (Ord. 3398 § 6, 2021) I. The purchasing agent may sign contract renewals up to three hundred thousand dollars that meet all of the following conditions:

1. Have previously been approved by the board of supervisors,
2. Are a continuation of a service at the same level,
3. For which funds have been budgeted,
4. After approval of county counsel and risk management; (Ord. 3398 § 7, 2021)

J. The purchasing agent may choose the option for disposal of assets or properties after the items have been declared surplus by the board of supervisors; (Ord. 3398 § 8, 2021)

K. The purchasing agent may decide between using a competitive bid or request for proposal when there is a mix of services and equipment; (Ord. 3398 § 9, 2021)

L. The purchasing agent may determine that a single source provider or a compatibility requirement exists and exempt purchases from competitive bid or request for proposals. (Ord. 3398 § 10, 2021; rd. 3230 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2090 § 2 (part), 1995).

the policy of the county to use recycled materials where feasible. To further this policy the purchasing agent shall:

A. Ensure that contractors bidding to provide products or services, including printing services, comply with recycled product requirements as established by the board;

B. Purchase recycled paper for use in copy machines when the copier industry develops high-speed copiers that will accept recycled paper within cost parameters approved by the board;

C. Ensure that departments convert to the use for their masthead stationery and envelopes recycled paper that includes postconsumer recycled content;

D. Grant a three percent price purchase preference to recycled products, reusable products offered as alternatives to disposable products and products that are offered as alternatives to nonrecycled products.
The preference percentage shall be based on the lowest bid or price quoted by the supplier or suppliers offering nonrecycled products. (Ord. 2090 § 2 (part), 1995).

E. County departments, and direct service providers to the County, must comply with the County’s Paper Products Procurement Policy. (Ord. 3444 § 1, 2023)

purchasing equipment and supplies, the purchasing agent shall give local vendors a five percent price preference. Local vendors should always be given the opportunity to submit quotes/bids on goods and/or services. The preference percentage shall be based on the lowest bid or price quoted by the supplier or supplier offering products. “Local vendor” means a vendor whose principal place of business is within the county. If a recycled good bid and a local bid entitled to a vendor price preference are equal, preference shall be given to the recycled good bid. (Ord. 3096 § 1, 2010; Ord. 2090 § 2 (part), 1995; Ord. 1634, 1988; Ord. 1097, 1980).