Virginia Law

Article 2. County Procurement by a County Purchasing Agent.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any county until the governing body employs a county purchasing agent or designates someone to perform such duties, as provided in § 15.2-1543.

Code 1950, § 15-549; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-113; 1997, c. 587.

As used in this article, "supplies" means any articles or things, including equipment, which are used by or furnished to any department, institution, office, board or other agency of county government.

"Contractual services" means any telephone, telegraph, postal, electric light and power service and other similar services.

Code 1950, § 15-542; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-106; 1997, c. 587.

A. Except as otherwise provided in this article, any supplies or contractual services needed by one or more departments or agencies of the county government shall be directly purchased or contracted for by the county purchasing agent, in accordance with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section.

B. The county purchasing agent, subject to the approval of the governing body of the county, shall promulgate regulations for the following purposes:

1. Prescribing the manner in which supplies shall be purchased, delivered, stored, and distributed;

2. Prescribing the dates for making requisitions and estimates, the future period which they are to cover, the form in which they shall be submitted, the manner of their authentication, and their revision by the county purchasing agent;

3. Providing for the transfer to or between county departments and agencies of supplies which are surplus with one department or agency but which may be needed by another, and for the disposal by sale, after receipt of competitive bids, of supplies which are obsolete and unusable;

4. Prescribing the amount of deposit or bond to be submitted with a bid on a contract and the amount of deposit or bond to be given for the faithful performance of a contract;

5. Prescribing the manner in which claims for supplies and contractual services delivered to the departments and agencies of the county shall be submitted, examined, approved and paid; and

6. Providing for such other matters as may be necessary to give effect to the foregoing rules and the provisions of this article.

Code 1950, § 15-543; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-107; 1997, c. 587.

A. All purchases of, and contracts for, supplies and contractual services shall be in accordance with Chapter 43 (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) of Title 2.2.

B. All sales of any personal property which has become obsolete and unusable shall be based wherever feasible on competitive bids. If the amount of the sale is estimated by the county purchasing agent to exceed $5,000, sealed bids shall, unless the governing body provides otherwise, be solicited by public notice published at least once in a newspaper of countywide circulation at least seven calendar days before the final date of submitting bids.

Code 1950, § 15-544; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-108; 1977, c. 217; 1980, c. 16; 1982, c. 647; 1997, c. 587; 2023, cc. 506, 507.

All contracts shall be approved as to form by the county attorney or other qualified attorney and a copy of each long-term contract shall be filed with the treasurer or other chief financial officer of the county.

Code 1950, § 15-545; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-109; 1977, c. 584; 1982, c. 647; 1997, c. 587.

Except in emergency, no order for delivery on a contract or open market order for supplies or contractual services for any county department or agency shall be awarded until the chief financial officer has certified that the unencumbered balance in the appropriation concerned, in excess of all unpaid obligations, is sufficient to defray the cost of such order.

Code 1950, § 15-546; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-110; 1997, c. 587.

If any department or agency of the county government purchases or contracts for any supplies or contractual services contrary to the provisions of this article or the rules and regulations made thereunder, such order or contract shall be void and the head of such department or agency shall be personally liable for the costs of such order or contract.

Code 1950, § 15-546; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-110; 1997, c. 587.

Any violation of § 15.2-1238 or § 15.2-1239 shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as provided by § 18.2-12.

Code 1950, § 15-548; 1960, c. 360; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-112; 1997, c. 587.