The mission of the Office of the Purchasing Agent is to acquire the various items required by County departments and supported agencies in a timely and economical manner consistent with the County Purchasing Act Texas Local Government Code(LGC), Chapter 262 other relevant law and best business practices.

The primary function of the Purchasing Agent is to secure goods and services at the lowest cost taking into consideration the prevailing economic conditions and user requirements, consistent with appropriate quality standards utilizing a method of purchase to ensure openness, fairness, and integrity concerning the vendor community and the public at large. Realizing this office is created for the purpose of a "check and balance" for county purchases, this office strives to maintain consistent and open communication with the supplier community and the general public. Every effort is made to operate in an efficient and economical manner consistent with existing laws and principles of sound business practices.

The functions of the Purchasing Agent are broken into several broad categories, each of which are addressed, generally, in the "rules and procedures" approved by commissioners court and more specifically, within internal policy and procedures.

Informal purchases: Purchases that are under $25,000 in value do not require a competitive bid process. Internal procedures allow for as much competition as practicable given the requirements of the user department.

Formal purchases: Purchases that exceed $25,000 in value, generally, require a competitive bid process. Commissioners' court is the contracting authority for and the awarding authority for items utilizing a competitive bid process. The Purchasing Agent is responsible for the supervision of the process and presenting the bids to Commissioners' Court. This office strives to prepare specifications that will meet the user’s requirements and be consistent with the spirit of the competitive bid process.

Contract Administration: The Purchasing Agent is the administrator of all county contracts except those involving real property; construction or construction related engineering services. As such, contractual agreements originate in this office and when applicable, are coordinated with the county attorney's office prior to being presented to commissioner’s court. Purchase orders are, generally, written which authorize actions to be taken under the approved, contractual agreement. All changes to a contract must be processed through this office and have commissioner’s court approval.

Purchasing Services: Services that are related to the purchasing function and report through the purchasing agent.

Inventory - an accounting of all personal property items in excess of $500 unit value are maintained by this office. All transfers in or out of county departments must be made by this office and approved by Commissioners' Court. Surplus Warehouse - Reusable surplus items are maintained by this office and are available for transfer to county departments.

Sale of Surplus - This office is responsible for the sale of surplus items by public auction or sealed bids. Confiscated items are sold periodically, at public auction.

Recycling - This office is responsible for the recycling operation for the county (oversight by the county resource management committee). Major commodities are paper, cardboard, metal, plastics. Additionally, this office sponsors recycling informational outreach programs.