What is Procurement & Why Do We Need It? By: Amanda Amos, Contract & Procurement Specialist What is Procurement? Where can I see Bids and RFPs?
On the County ’ s Procurement website, there is a link labeled Bids and RFPs that will take you to all Bids and RFPs that are either open, closed, awarded, or cancelled. The County also publishes Bids & RFPs on the Commonwealth of Virginia ’ s eVA website. Both sites will provide you with details of what is being procured. Interested in an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or Request for Proposals (RFP) opportunity, what should I do? Interested bidder ’ s must follow the instructions in the IFB document or RFP found on the County ’ s Procurement website and the Commonwealth of Virginia ’ s eVA website. IFBs will list details regarding the Scope of Work as RFPs list Specification of Work needed. Both will list important dates and how each package response should be delivered. It is important to remember, LATE BIDS/PROPOSALS ARE NOT ACCEPTED! For additional assistance with procurement related questions, please contact Amanda Amos, Contract & Procurement Specialist, at aamos@orangecountyva.gov or (540) 661 - 5378.
Procurement involves every activity involved in obtaining goods and services needed to support daily operations. This includes actions such as sourcing, negotiations, purchasing, receiving and inspecting goods, as well as records and contract management. Goods and services should be procured by procedures conducted in a fair and impartial manner with avoidance of any impropriety. All qualified vendors should have access to public businesses and competition should be sought to the maximum feasible degree.
How is Procurement regulated?
Procurement embraces a fundamental obligation to the general public ensuring purchasing is accomplished in accordance with the intent of the law. The Code of Virginia specifically lists the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA). The VPPA applies to every public body in the Commonwealth which includes “ any legislative, executive or judicial body, agency, office, department, authority, post, commission, committee, institution, board or political subdivision created by law to exercise some sovereign power, or to perform some governmental duty ”.
Employee Guidelines to Follow.
When purchasing, here are a couple questions to ask yourself:
How much am I spending?
•
• Does this purchase require a purchase order?
• Are there ridable contracts to piggyback?
• What if this is an emergency purchase?
The Procurement Policy is a helpful tool to guide you with purchasing.
I ’ m a vendor interested in doing business with
Orange County, what should I do?
Vendors are encouraged to sign up on the County ’ s bidders list. This link can be found on the County ’ s Procurement site, here. Once received by Procurement, you will receive email notifications pertaining to potential job opportunities.
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