Ensure that fair and open competition exists in all procurement activities in order to avoid the appearance of and prevent the opportunity for favoritism and to inspire public confidence that contracts are awarded equitably and economically. The Department of Management Services develops contracts and delegates authority for some purchases to other state agencies. Purchases of goods and services that are ongoing and are common to several state agencies, generally are consolidated under standard specifications and are developed into state term contracts. State Purchasing issues state term contracts that tell an agency purchasing office who the vendors are, what the prices are, and how to order. Agencies issue purchase orders to the vendors to fill their needs from these contracts.
Payment is made directly by the ordering entity.
These contracts are also available for use by county, municipality or other local public agencies. However, the standard procedures defined by State Purchasing apply for all state purchases whether made centrally or locally. Who is Buying and Where State agency purchasing offices are located throughout the state where you may have a chance to make a sale. For example, the district offices of the Department of Transportation, and Department of Corrections, and the institutions and administrative offices of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Health, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the ten Florida university campuses, among others. These purchasing practices may include but are not limited to verbal quotations or written records of telephone quotations.