The Purchasing Agent is directly responsible for the procurement of goods and services rendered the Township. The Purchasing Agent also maintains a centralized purchasing system for all offices and departments, and oversees the solicitation of competitive bids required by the Local Public Contracts Law. In 2001 the Purchasing Department processed almost 1,865 requisitions and issued 1,125 Purchase Orders.
The Township is a firm believer in the concepts of cooperative purchasing, as demonstrated in our example below, and is a contributing partner and participant in both New Jersey's State Cooperative Purchasing Program and Bergen County's Cooperative Pricing System.
An example of the work performed by the Township Purchasing Agent is the yearly purchase of rock salt for Teaneck's Winter storm needs. If the Township Purchasing Agent were to purchase rock salt on behalf of the Township only, he could only generate a need for approximately 800 tons of rock salt, the Township's past normal winter usage of this commodity. Rock salt vendors would only price this product based on Teaneck's anticipated usage.
As a member of Bergen County's Cooperative Pricing System, the Township Purchasing Agent adds Teaneck's requirements to that of Bergen County and all the other municipal members of the Cooperative System. This greater quantity of rock salt is publicly advertised by the Bergen County Purchasing Department, and bids are accepted. Competition generated by the Public Bidding Process, and the cumulative, greater amount of rock salt requested in behalf of the Cooperative, results in a low price for all Cooperative Members of the System, Teaneck included. Membership in the Cooperative System also adds clout to delivery concerns when product shortages are experienced in heavy snow years. During the 2001/2002 Winter season the Township Purchasing Agent was able to receive a delivered price of $33.75 per ton for Teaneck's rock salt orders, as a result of our participation in this Cooperative.
In June 200 I, the Township Purchasing Agent conducted the Township's Annual Spring Auction of unusable and obsolete equipment and supplies generated from all Township departments, including bicycles confiscated by our Police. This event netted the Township $2,247.