Purchasing is one of the most powerful functions of local governments. Developing purchasing guidelines – whether for large projects or professional services – is critical as it ensures that all purchasing laws are being followed and that public funds are being used wisely and judiciously. Abuse or misuse of this power can be damaging to a local government and, as a result, very costly to the taxpayers. Attend this upcoming program to help you understand your legal and ethical obligations to engage in proper purchasing procedures.
Click here to register for this program, which will be held on April 7, 2010 between 6:00 and 9:00 PM at the Green Tree Borough Municipal Building.
The Local Government Academy’s upcoming program – Purchasing Power! – will provide you with information about the basic purchasing rules that are outlined in the municipal codes, when competitive bidding is and is not required, purchasing under emergency conditions, the steps of the bidding process versus when informal price quotes are required and special purchasing requirements. Michael Foreman, a Local Government Policy Specialist with the DCED Governor’s Center for Local Government Services will cover these purchasing requirements as they relate to all municipalities.
Additionally, instructors will also spend time covering the process of selecting professional services, such as choosing an engineer or solicitor, a professional planner for a comprehensive plan, an auditor, and municipal banking, pension and insurance services. Since selecting professional services are not subject to the same purchasing requirements, these decisions are often difficult ones to make for local governing boards and are done less often than other large monetary purchases, such as the annual road paving program. Purchasing Power! will also focus briefly on the importance of regularly evaluating professional services as an effective way to control costs and strengthen the way that business is conducted in your municipality.
Participants in this program will receive a sampling of Requests for Qualifications and Requests for Proposals that will demonstrate various ways in which these types of documents can be crafted to ensure that bidders are meeting the municipality’s needs.
Purchasing Power! will also focus on Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliances and the benefits of joint purchasing agreements and programs, including Pennsylvania’s Cooperative Purchasing Program, Co-Stars. Lou Gorski, Executive Director of the South Hills Area Council of Governments will discuss the success of this program and other similar programs in the Commonwealth.
This program is offered FREE OF CHARGE to communities that have been designated as fiscally distressed (Act 47) by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the support of the DCED Governor’s Center for Local Government Services.
Please encourage elected officials, department personnel, and managers/secretaries in your municipality to attend this important program.
Comments