Procurement Practices and Procedures

The County is not bound by any commitment to a vendor by a department.
A purchase order is required for all purchases valued at $1,000 and above for all County departments.
Purchases of equipment, supplies, or materials valued at $90,000 and above are processed by the Purchasing Agent through a formal bid process.
Formal bids require written specifications, legal advertisement, sealed bids, and in some situations a bid bond is required. Once bids are opened, these bids are available for public inspection.
Informal bids are for items less than $90,000 and are confidential until bid award.
The County Manager is authorized to award bids for purchases of supplies and equipment less than $250,000.
The Catawba County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

The staff of the Purchasing Department is committed to the following Code of Ethics:

To conduct all purchasing activities according to applicable laws, rules,
regulations, and policies of Catawba County and the State of North Carolina.
To uphold the practices and principles of the professional purchaser.
To conduct all purchasing activities in such a manner as to develop and maintain good public, vendor and internal relationships.
To encourage fair and open competition by legitimate and ethical means.
To extend honest, courteous and impartial treatment to all interested and qualified suppliers.
To maintain purchasing integrity at all times, keep free from any personal obligations to vendors, and respect their confidence.
To promote the goodwill of the Purchasing Division at all times.
To respect purchasing authority at all times, and not use it for private advantage or gain.

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