STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASING - A DIGEST

• NCJ Number: 17592
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 41 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Council of State Governments; Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE REPORT TRACES THE PURCHASING PROCESS FROM THE ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS; TO WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS; TO ADVERTISING, EVALUATING AND AWARDING BIDS; TO INSPECTION AND TESTING PROCEDURES ON GOODS PURCHASED.

Abstract

THE STUDY FINDINGS INDICATE THAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASING PROGRAMS TAKE MANY DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES, RANGING FROM VERY DECENTRALIZED, ONE-PERSON ACTIVITIES, TO HIGHLY CENTRALIZED PROGRAMS HAVING MANY PEOPLE. THE STUDY FINDINGS ALSO INDICATE, HOWEVER, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN FUNDAMENTALS WHICH ARE, OR SHOULD BE, APPLIED UNIVERSALLY TO THESE DIVERSE OPERATIONS. ONE OF THESE FUNDAMENTALS IS THAT EACH GOVERNMENT UNIT LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT A PURCHASING PROGRAM SHOULD ASSIGN FULL PURCHASING AUTHORITY TO ONE CENTRAL ACTIVITY. THIS AUTHORITY SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE RIGHT TO DELEGATE CERTAIN ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS DEEMED DESIRABLE. CENTRAL AUTHORITY IS CONDUCIVE TO INCREASED AWARENESS OF AND ADHERENCE TO THE BEST PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC CONTRACTING. THIS STUDY DISCLOSES THAT GIVEN THE ATTRIBUTES OF OPENNESS, CENTRALIZATION AND PROFESSIONALISM, THERE CAN BE VARIETY IN THE DETAIL OF ORGANIZATION, POLICY AND PROCEDURE WITHOUT GREAT EFFECT ON THE DELIVERY OF COMPETENT PROCUREMENT SERVICES. FINALLY, THE STUDY FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF A STRONG PURCHASING PROGRAM CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN TERMS OF A NUMBER OF KEY ELEMENTS. EACH OF THESE REQUIRES BASIC STATUTORY OR REGULATORY COVERAGE, TOGETHER WITH WRITTEN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)