Sec. 2-238. - City purchasing agent.

The city purchasing agent shall be the head and have general supervision of the division of purchasing of the department of finance. The agent shall perform all duties required of a division head by law, and shall have the powers and duties prescribed by this article. (1)

Position specifications. The agent shall be appointed by the mayor and in accordance with rules and regulations of the civil service system.

(2)

Scope of purchasing authority. The agent shall have the power and it shall be his duty:

a.

To purchase or contract for all supplies and contractual services needed by any using agency which derives its support wholly or in part from the city, in accordance with purchasing procedures as prescribed by this article and such rules and regulations as the department of finance shall adopt for the internal management and operation of the division of purchasing and such other rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the chief administrator and the city council.

b.

Except as provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any city officer or officers to order the purchase of any supplies or make any contract within the purview of this article other than through the division of purchasing, and any purchase ordered or contract made contrary to the provisions of this section shall be invalid and without effect.

(3)

Other powers and duties. In addition to the purchasing authority conferred in subsection (2) of this section and in addition to any other powers and duties conferred by this article or by the city Charter, the purchasing agent shall:

a.

Act to procure for the city the highest quality in supplies and contractual services at the least expense to the city;

b.

Discourage uniform bidding and endeavor to obtain as full and open competition as possible on all purchases and sales;

c.

Establish, and amend when necessary, all rules and regulations authorized by this article and any others necessary to its operation, such regulations to be filed with the city clerk;

d.

Keep informed of current developments in the field of purchasing, prices, market conditions and new products, and secure for the city the benefits of research done in the field of purchasing by other government jurisdictions, national technical societies, trade associations having national recognition, and by private businesses and organizations;

e.

Prescribe and maintain such forms as he shall find necessary to the operation of the article;

f.

Prepare, adopt and maintain a standard purchasing commodity code index for using agencies and supplies;

g.

Prepare, adopt and maintain a vendors' catalog file. Such catalog shall be filed according to materials and shall contain descriptions of vendors' commodities prices and discounts;

h.

Exploit the possibilities of buying in bulk so as to take full advantage of quantity purchase discounts;

i.

Act so as to procure for the city all federal tax exemptions to which it may be entitled;

j.

Cooperate with the department of finance so as to secure for the city the maximum efficiency in budgeting and accounting.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 2-238; Ch. 877, § XIII, 6-6-23)