PURCHASING

The Purchasing Department is responsible for the procurement of all Township equipment, supplies and services; helps monitor departmental budgets and spending; and serves as the Township's accounts payable liaison with vendors. 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. The Purchasing Agent helps develop bid specifications and oversees all public bid openings. All current bid announcements may be viewed on the Township's website, www.teanecknjgov.org.

The Department conducts public auctions for surplus Township equipment and supplies. The Purchasing Agent is also the Township's liaison with the New Jersey State Cooperative Purchasing Program and the Bergen County Cooperative Purchasing System.

The Purchasing Agent oversees compliance with State Affirmative Action Public Contract regulations, and the New Jersey Prevailing Wage requirements.

In 2002 the Purchasing Department processed 2,115 requisitions and issued 1,178 purchase orders.

The Township is a firm believer in the concepts of cooperative purchasing and is a contributing partner and participant in both New Jersey's State Cooperative Purchasing Program and Bergen County's Cooperative Pricing System. Ordering equipment, supplies and services through New Jersey's State Cooperative Purchasing Program and Bergen County's Cooperative Pricing System enabled the Township to secure better pricing since our needs were combined with the needs of other participant members.

An example of work performed in 2002 by the Purchasing Agent was the yearly procurement of police vehicles to replenish the Township's fleet. As a member of the New Jersey State Cooperative Purchasing Program, the Township was able to add Teaneck's requirements to all other municipal police car needs in the State of New Jersey. The larger quantity of police vehicles was publicly advertised by the New Jersey State Purchasing Bureau. Competition generated by the public bidding process, and the cumulative greater amount of police vehicles requested on behalf of the State Purchasing Bureau, resulted in a lower priced police vehicle for all cooperative members of the System, Teaneck included. In 2002, we were able to purchase six Ford Crown Victoria police cars, at a delivered price of just under $20,500 each.

In addition, in June 2002, the Township's Purchasing Agent conducted the Township's annual spring auction of unusable/obsolete equipment and supplies generated from all Township departments, including confiscated bicycles. This event netted the Township $2,265.

Back