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The responsibility of purchasing ultimately rests with the Commissioners Court. The Purchasing Agent, as an agent of the Commissioners Court, aids in the purchasing process but is subject to the Court's direction as to reasonable specifications and maximum prices on items to be purchased. The Purchasing Department was established to assist each elected official, department head and staff to procure necessary goods and services at the best possible price within all purchasing laws, while providing vendors with one single source of contact for county procurement opportunities.

The Goals Of Public Purchasing Include The Following:

• purchase quality goods and services
• get the best possible price for goods and services
• delivery of goods and services when and where needed
• assure a continuing supply of needed goods and services
• guard against misappropriation of any assets procured

Public Purchasing Must Ensure:

• that responsible bidders are given a fair opportunity to compete for the County's business. This is done partially by the statutory requirements for competitive bids and proposals, and partially by the County's own purchasing procedures.
• that public funds are safeguarded. Although the purchasing department does not usually designate the types of purchases to be made, it should see that the best value is received for the public dollar.
• that public spending is not used to enrich elected officials or government employees, or to confer favors on favored constituents.

Public employees should conduct themselves in such a manner as to foster public confidence in the integrity of Brazos County's purchasing process. To achieve this purpose, it is essential that persons or companies doing business with Brazos County observe the ethical standards prescribed:

• It shall be a breach of ethics to attempt to realize personal gain through public employment with Brazos County by any conduct inconsistent with the proper discharge of the employee's duties.
• It shall be a breach of ethics to attempt to influence any public employee of Brazos County to breach the standards of ethical conduct set forth in this code.
• It shall be a breach of ethics for any employee of Brazos County to participate directly or indirectly in a procurement when the employee knows that:

the employee or any member of the employee's immediate family has a financial interest pertaining to the purchase

a business or organization in which the employee, or any member of the employee's immediate family, has a financial interest to the purchase

any other person, business or organization with whom the employee or any member of the employee's immediate family is negotiating or has an arrangement concerning prospective employment, is involved in the procurement

• It shall be a breach of ethics to offer, give, or agree, solicit, demand, or accept from a vendor or potential vendor, a gratuity or an offer of employment in connection with any decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation or preparation of any purchase request pending before this county.

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200 South Texas Avenue
Suite 352
Bryan, TX 77803
Phone: (979) 361-4290
Fax: (979) 361-4293