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Purchase Categories

The county has established various levels of purchasing categories that have been outlined below. The purchase of all goods and services used by the county fall within one of the established categories. The purchase category will indicate what pricing information must be obtained from vendors before a purchase order can be placed.

Category 1

Purchases Less Than $500:
The individual Department Head may exercise discretionary purchasing and acquisition of such purchases. These purchases will be accomplished through the use of requisitions/purchase orders created and issued directly by the department, and approved by the Department Head and the County Judge.

CATEGORY 2

Purchases $500 Or More But Less Than $2,000:
A minimum of three telephone quotations are required. The ordering department may solicit the quotations or leave the responsibility up to the Purchasing Department. The ordering department is still responsible for initiating the requisition. All such purchases require a purchase order approved by the Purchasing Agent.

Category 3

Purchases $2,000 Or More But Less Than $10,000:
A minimum of three written quotations are required. The ordering department may solicit the quotations or leave the responsibility up to the Purchasing Department. The ordering department is still responsible for initiating the requisition. All such purchases require a purchase order approved by the Purchasing Agent.

Category 4

Purchases of $10,000 Or More But Less Than $25,000:
The Purchasing Department will be responsible for securing specifications and for soliciting vendor responses and price quotes. All purchases require a minimum of three written quotations, or, at the discretion of the Purchasing Department, written bids or sealed competitive bids may be solicited. All purchases require a purchase order approved by the Purchasing Agent and the County Judge.

CATEGORY 5

Purchases Greater Than $25,000:
Sealed competitive written bids or proposals must be secured by the Purchasing Department in accordance with the Local Government code 262.023. The Purchasing Department will evaluate the bids and submit its recommendation to Commissioners Court for approval.