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 contracts or joint institutional purchases. The Division of Purchasing issues state 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 available for use by county, municipality or other local public agencies. However, the standard procedures defined by the Division of Purchasing apply for all state purchases whether made centrally or locally. Almost all of the purchases are made from private companies. Some of these purchases are from Florida Certified Minority businesses. These purchasing practices may include but are not limited to verbal quotations or written records of telephone quotations.