About

Mission Statement & Guiding Principles

“Money is of no value; it cannot spend itself.
All depends on the skill of the spender.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

MISSION

The mission of the Procurement Office is to serve the public by modernizing procurement and contracting procedures, implementing a fair and transparent procurement process while engaging local businesses, and maximizing purchasing value by applying the best procurement practices.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Our team adheres to the National Institute for Public Procurement’s (NIGP) “Values and Guiding Principles of Public Procurement.”

  • Accountability – Taking ownership and being responsible to stakeholders for our actions
  • Ethics – Acting and conducting business with honesty and integrity
  • Impartiality – Unbiased decision-making and action
  • Professionalism – Upholding high standards of job performance and ethical behavior
  • Service – Obligation to assist stakeholders
  • Transparency – Easily accessible and understandable policies and procedures

About the Bureau of Purchasing

The Bureau of Purchasing is housed in the City’s Finance Department and serves as the central authority for all City Departments, Boards and Commissions’ procurement and purchasing needs.

The Bureau of Purchasing strives to modernize procurement and contracting procedures, to implement a fair and transparent procurement process while engaging local businesses, and to maximize purchasing value by applying the best procurement practices.

Finally, the Bureau of Purchasing adheres to the “Values and Guiding Principles of Public Procurement” adopted in 2010 by the National Institute for Public Procurement (“NIPG”).

  • “Ethics – Acting in a manner true to these values…essential to preserve the public’s trust.”
  • Impartiality – Unbiased decision-making and actions…essential to ensure fairness for the public good.
  • Accountability – Taking ownership and being responsible to stakeholders for our action…essential to preserve the public trust and protect the public interest.
  • Professionalism – Upholding high standards of job performance and ethical behavior…essential to balance diverse public interests.
  • Service – Obligation to assist stakeholders…essential to support the public good.
  • Transparency – Easily accessible and understandable policies and processes…essential to demonstrate responsible use of public funds.”