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The Orange County Procurement Process: Contract Bids and Proposals

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From Orange County Commissioner Bryan Nelson

The Orange County Procurement Division manages the County’s procurement program through the effective use of a wide array of purchasing and contracting procedures involving the issuance of various solicitations, negotiation and award of contracts for all types of goods and services including construction and architectural and engineering services. Some of the responsibilities of the Division include obtaining fair prices for materials, equipment, goods and services, and generally defining how to effect cost savings and coordinate procurement procedures for Orange County.

The purchase requisition serves to inform the Division of the needs of the user department/division and to correctly define the good or service requested. Purchase requisitions must be submitted with sufficient time for the Division to obtain competitive prices. The following minimum time requirements are necessary to secure competitive prices after receipt of requisition(s) and correct specifications by the Division: 10 working days for goods or services that will be quoted (greater than $1,500 to the mandatory bid limit); 6 to 9 weeks for goods or services that must be procured via formal solicitation; and 12 weeks for goods and services that must be procured via a formal solicitation requiring board approval. Purchases totaling $1,500 or less will be made by the Division only upon written request. All requisitions must be authorized by the Department Director/Division Manager or designee; should originate in the user department/division at the level where the purchase is to be used; and should proceed to the designated approval authority prior to being sent to the Division.

Upon receipt of a purchase requisition, the Procurement Division will research sources of supply and facilitate the procurement process for the goods or services. The user department/division may obtain quotes for commodities or services up to the mandatory bid limit, from at least 3 vendors (including at least one M/W/BE vendor, if applicable) independent of the Procurement Division provided that they are submitted to the Division and verifiable. This Division reserves the right to verify such quotes or obtain additional quotes at its discretion.

The Procurement Division will solicit bids/proposals from responsible prospective vendors obtained from commodity code cross-reference, market research, suggestions from the user department/division and previous vendors. This Division seeks to maximize competition by uploading all formal solicitation opportunities on the website for download by interested parties at no cost. Bids/Proposals must be received no later than the established deadline at the location specified in the solicitation, where failure to meet this deadline will result in the return of an unopened bid/proposal to the bidder/proposer. Upon request, the formal solicitation is provided to prospective bidders/proposers; public notice of solicitations shall be posted in the Procurement Division office and on the County website. Bids and proposals are publicly opened at the time and location stated in the solicitation.

As mandated by the Procurement Ordinance, a security bond is required to be submitted with a bid or proposal in the form of bonds, a certified check or a cashier’s check, based on specified dollar thresholds.

The Procurement Division will obtain a recommendation of award from the user department/division prior to award. Award of the bids under the approval limit of the Board of County Commissioners will be made by the Procurement Division.

The Procurement Ordinance outlines a protest process for bidders/proposers who seek to challenge a recommendation for award in the formal solicitation process.

When required, the successful bidder or proposer shall promptly execute a formal contract signed by the proper authority.

Orange County Commissioner Bryan Nelson

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