Chapter One: County Purchasing Practices
County purchasing practices in Oklahoma are regulated by sections in Title 19, Chapter 33, “County Purchasing Procedures,” of the Oklahoma Statutes, commonly referred to as the County Purchasing Act. These practices are also regulated by the “Public Competitive Bidding Act” in the Oklahoma Statutes. These statutes are revised each year by the Oklahoma Legislature to keep them current and beneficial.
The County Purchasing Procedures are used for the requisition, purchase, lease purchase, rental, and receipt of supplies; materials; equipment; road and bridge construction services; and information technology and telecommunication goods and services for the maintenance, operation, and capital expenditures of county government.
The Public Competitive Bidding Act covers all public construction contracts for public improvements, construction or repairs of any public buildings, and road construction projects.
Note: Large road projects may still fall under the Public Competitive Bidding Act. A recommended best practice is to consult with the county’s district attorney.
A well-organized purchasing system ensures that good business practices are followed when goods are purchased, leased, lease-purchased, or obtained by any other method that puts the goods under the control of a county entity.
Adequate records must be maintained to document the fact that the purchase and receipt of goods, inventory during use, and final disposition are done according to established procedures that follow legal mandates.
The following sections describe the functions and responsibilities of the various people involved in the county purchasing process.