Vendor Guide

Purchasing

This guide will help you understand our policies and procedures, acquaint you with selling opportunities; promote good vendor-purchasing relationships; and make more efficient use of both the vendors' and procurement staff's time.

Vendors are constantly looking for new markets for increased sales and a reasonable profit. Okeechobee County is constantly looking for innovative, reliable, and competitive vendors who can satisfy the purchasing needs of Okeechobee County. Together, the vendor and Okeechobee County can achieve a mutually satisfactory vendor-purchasing relationship between seller and buyer.

The Procurement Department is responsible for the purchase of products and services for all Departments under the Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners. This includes all aspects of the purchase from the receipt of the department's requisition to issuance of a purchase order or contract.

This guide has been developed to provide general information to you as a vendor. However, if your questions are not answered, do not hesitate to call the Procurement Department at (863) 763-6441.

Thank you for your interest in serving the needs of Okeechobee County. We look forward to doing business with you in the future, and hope our relationship will be a positive one.

Sincerely,
Okeechobee County Procurement Department

Bidders

Gifts and Favors

As public purchasing official, Okeechobee County is required to maintain high standards of ethics and conduct and to maintain complete independence and impartiality in dealing with vendors, both in fact and appearance.

Okeechobee County endeavors to retain the goodwill of all vendors by dealing fairly and ethically with them at all times. In order to preserve the integrity of the competitive process and to ensure there is public confidence that purchases are awarded equitably and economically, Okeechobee County respectively requests that vendors refrain from offering any gift, favors or gratuities to the staff of the Procurement Department or any other County representative or department.

Complaints and Grievances

Vendor complaints or grievances should be submitted in writing to the Procurement Department Administrative Services Director. The issue will then be investigated as to the validity of the complaint and present the findings to the vendor.

Fair and Open Competition

Okeechobee County County promotes fair and open competition and strives to ensure that such practices exist in all procurement activities. Every effort is made to ensure that specifications are designed for compatibility with standard trade practices. Potential bidders are encouraged to advise the Administrative Services Director if they feel any language and/or requirement of a specification restricts or limits competition.

Purchases are awarded to the lowest, most responsible and responsive vendor. Responsible means the vendor has the capability, integrity and reliability to perform the requirements of the solicitation. Responsive means the vendor has submitted a quotation/bid which conforms in all material respects to the request including meeting or exceeding product quality.

Communication

Bids

All communications relative to any bid matters should normally be channeled through the Procurement Department so that a complete record is maintained of all transactions relative to a purchase, quotation and/or bid.

Ordering

All purchases must be supported by an authorized purchase order unless specifically exempted by the County's Purchasing Policy. As a vendor, and for your protection, you should always make certain that a written purchase order has been issued prior to delivery of products and/or services. The purchase order establishes the full agreement between the vendor and the County.

Delivery

Unless already defined in the specifications, a definite number of days for delivery after receipt of order should always be stated. All purchases shall be to Okeechobee County, inside delivery at a designated delivery point identified on the purchase order. Exceptions must be pre-arranged. The purchase order number must appear on the delivery ticket and on packages. Failure to meet the specified delivery terms and schedule may result in cancellation of the order. Back-orders will only be accepted with the prior approval of the Procurement Department. Vendors who consistently deliver late, back-order or have an inordinate amount of damage are subject to removal from the bid list.