A. Purpose: The purpose of the Jo Daviess County purchasing procedures policy is:
1. To make the most efficient use of taxpayers' dollars;
2. To ensure the conservation of public funds by approving purchases in advance;
3. To maximize the purchasing value of public funds in procurement, to the fullest extent practicable, while giving consideration to the lifetime cost as well as other factors needed to determine the best overall value to the County;
4. To manage the procurement process in accordance with the law;
5. To buy the correct equipment, materials, goods or services required;
6. To purchase the optimum quantity so as to avoid overstocking or emergency shortages;
7. To provide guidelines for purchasing equipment, materials, supplies, and services for the operational requirements of Jo Daviess County that ensures competitive and unbiased selection of vendors.
B. Application: This chapter applies to contracts for procurement of goods, services, construction, and professional services entered into by the County after the effective date hereof. It shall apply to every expenditure of public funds by a County agency for public purchasing irrespective of its source, except as otherwise provided by the State law and State regulation. When the procurement involves the expenditure of State or Federal assistance or contract funds, the procurement shall be conducted in accordance with any applicable mandatory State and/or Federal law. Certain officers and agencies may have independent statutory authority to purchase their own goods and services. These officers and agencies are encouraged to participate in the County purchasing program. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent any County officer or agency from complying with the terms and conditions of any grant, gift, bequest, or cooperative purchasing agreement that is otherwise consistent with law.
C. Local Vendors: The County Board prefers to transact County purchases with local vendors and service providers when competitive market conditions exist.
D. Singular, Plural And Gender Rules:
1. Singular, Plural: When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number.
2. Gender: A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend and be applied to females and to firms, partnership, and corporations as well as to males. (Ord. 2011-4, 5-10-2011)