Purchasing

The goals of the Purchasing Department include:

• Delivery of goods and services when and where needed
• Obtain the best value for taxpayer dollars by purchasing quality goods and services for the best price
• To ensure an atmosphere of equality for all vendors

To ensure that ethical principles govern the conduct of all individuals and entities involved in the County’s procurement process including all solicitations and contracts, and shall be committed to and upheld by any individual engaged with this process.

• Brazos County sells all surplus personal property with GovDeals utilizing their online auction service. 
• This surplus property is available for any individual or entity to bid on in a fair and open manner. 
• All property is sold “as is” and “where is”, and without any warranty, expressed or implied, with each buyer assuming all risks of condition, current status and value. 
• All property is available for viewing by appointment during the sale. 
• Online payment must be made prior to pickup in accordance with the terms and conditions of the sale. 
• Pickup of any purchased items must comply with the terms of the sale and County staff are not available for assistance with loading.

Purchase Orders

Brazos County requires the issuance of a purchase order prior to delivery of any and all goods, supplies, equipment or services. The County is not responsible for verbal orders so every vendor should require a written purchase order to validate the placement of an order by any County department. Brazos County utilizes an automated financial system.  If any vendor has a reason to doubt the validity of a purchase order, you are encouraged to confirm with the Purchasing Department.

The Standard Terms and Conditions are incorporated by reference and apply to every purchase made. They are also referenced by link on each purchase order.

All purchases will be consistent with the Brazos County Purchasing Policy and state and federal laws. Any questions may be directed to Purchasing personnel. 

Guidelines

• Less than $5,000
  Items or services purchased in this category are at the discretion of the department head. Competitive quotes are encouraged, but not required.
• $5,000 to $99,999.99
  A minimum of three written quotes are required from vendors capable of providing the items or services.
• $100,000 or more
  Purchasing will secure these items or services through a sealed competitive bid or other method that is consistent with Texas statutes.

Vendor Registration

All formal solicitations will be posted to the Brazos Valley E-Marketplace website.  This bidding system allows a vendor to sign up in one place for solicitations from Brazos County, City of College Station, BTU, and San Jacinto River Authority.  This is provided at no cost to the vendor and facilitates an efficient means of procurement.

Policies and Related Resources

• Purchasing Policy
• Legislative Certifications
• Tax Verification
• Local Government Officer Conflicts Disclosure Statement
• Conflict of Interest Questionnaire
• Texas Ethics Commission Certificate of Interested Parties