Purchasing

Responsibilities

The Purchasing Division, as part of the Finance Department, purchases material and supplies based on Municipal Code and Council direction for the City. The division develops and issues solicitations for all goods, inventory items, services (including some professional services) and small public works (construction) projects. The Purchasing Agent, Buyer, and assigned staff are responsible for these purchasing activities and are the primary contact for suppliers to resolve contractual differences and issues amendments.

Purchasing Agent and Buyer are available to meet with a firm whose proposal was not selected to debrief them on their proposal's strengths and weaknesses.

Purchasing Process

Purchasing makes every effort to obtain maximum value for each dollar expended, considering the factors of price, quality, applicability, support service, pertinent laws and regulations. The division ensures performance satisfaction is obtained by working closely with City operating department employees, department heads, and project managers to develop specifications that are detailed and clearly written, yet sufficiently broad enough to promote competition among suppliers. City purchases are made in two competitive ways - Informal and Formal Solicitations.

Informal Solicitations

Purchases under $10,000 can be purchased directly by individual departments.

Purchases of $10,000 or more but under $50,000 require purchase orders and are awarded by the Purchasing Agent.

Formal Solicitations

Purchases of $ 50,000 or more require purchase orders, formal procurement either through Bids (IFB), Request for Proposal (RFP), or Request for Quotation (RFQ) and must have City Council approval.

Purchase Orders & Contracts

Purchase orders or contracts are issued after award is made to the successful firm and a copy of the signed document will be sent to the firm. The firm and the City are contractually bound to the terms and conditions of the signed document.

Bid Advertisements

The Milpitas Post for the most part and the San Jose Mercury newspaper on a limited basis are the newspapers of record for the legal advertisement for formal solicitations. Sometimes a specific project may necessitate the City to also advertise in an additional newspaper publication. Current bid solicitations are also posted on the City's website.

Disclaimer

While the City of Milpitas intends to maintain continuous access to this Website, from time to time access to information and/or documents may be interrupted or prevented either because of site problems, user problems or Internet problems. Not all access difficulties can be resolved by the City since some access failures may be due to the type of computer or communication equipment and services employed by the Website user. Suppliers are cautioned that the competitive nature of their offers could be affected if their submissions do not include all amendments. For this reason suppliers are advised to frequently revisit all solicitations to which they intend to respond. It is the suppliers responsibility to check the website from time to time for updates to opportunities and to pick up additional amendments and information.