STATE PURCHASE POLICIES

I. PURPOSE:

To provide guidance for the determination of the need for a purchase action. The purchase policies contain the methods and procedures to be followed when pursuing a purchase action in the name of the Department.



II. REFERENCES:

 
 

1. New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 17, Chapter 12 Entitled: Purchase Bureau.

2. New Jersey Statutes Annotated, Title 52.

3. All published or amended General Services Administration (GSA) Procurement Circulars to include Circular No. PC-23H, dated May 1, 1998, Direct Purchase Authorization.



III. DEFINITIONS:

A. ACCOUNT MANAGER: is a designated individual who has been delegated authority from a Program Manager to authorize expenditure of this Department's funds for the purpose of securing necessary commodities and/or services required for the performance of a Department function. The Account Manager is responsible and accountable for all expenditures made via this authority.

B. AGENCY BID PROPOSAL: is a public advertisement of a bid conducted for procurement of non-contract commodities or services at the Agency level by NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau or a facilities Business Office. An agency bid authority is limited to $3,500 - $11,000. Purchase Bureau Form PB-120 "Agency Bid Request" is utilized to accomplish this action.

C. AGENCY PURCHASE ORDER: is a commitment between the State and a vendor for commodities and/or services at a given price.

D. ANNUAL TERM CONTRACTS: are issued by the State Purchase Bureau for common statewide commodities and services. Duration of the contract can be from one to three years.

E. BUSINESS MANAGER: A department employee at a facility or supervising an operation who has been delegated specific signature authority to purchase commodities and services and authorize expenditures of State Funds.

F. CONFIRMING ORDER: is an "after-the-fact" issuance of an Agency Purchase Order.

G. DIRECT PURCHASE AUTHORIZATION (DPA): is a delegated purchase authority extended to State Agencies from the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property, Department of the Treasury, State of New Jersey.

H. "EMERGENCY" & "EMERGENCY PURCHASE": At the discretion of the Account Manager, a situation is deemed an emergency. This denotes an urgent need to correct or remedy a situation regarding health or safety of an individual or physical damage of a facility.

I. REQUEST FOR PURCHASE FORM: Form that is used by Account Managers to request of NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau that an Agency Purchase Order be issued for required commodities or services.

J. IMMEDIATE NEED: is defined as a necessity or circumstances which dictate a bypassing of the normal issuance of a Purchase Order prior to the purchase. The Purchase Order is then issued after the fact.

K. NJDMAVA ACCOUNTING BUREAU: is the Department's centralized accounting authority and operation.

L. NJDMAVA PURCHASE BUREAU: is the Department's centralized purchasing authority and operation.

M. NON-CONTRACT: Commodities and services purchased or required from vendors not having a State Contract. Purchases from the State Distribution Center fall under this category for transactions processed through the Management Acquisition System (MACS-E) and N.J. Comprehensive Financial System (NJCFS).

N. PROGRAM MANAGER: is a designated individual who is responsible and accountable for this Department's funding provided to support a specific program. Program Manager's accountability cannot be delegated or assigned. Expenditure authority may be delegated to an Account Manager.

O. WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT, PB FORM 129: is a request to bypass normal public advertisement of bid for services or commodities. Criteria for waiver submission is outlined in Procurement Circular 90-25-GSA with the appropriate statutes cited thereon. Such requests are initiated by Managers to NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau for review, recommendation and processing. Generally, dollar amounts are in excess of $11,000. Waiver of advertisement is restricted and individually reviewed/approved by The Adjutant General.



IV. OBJECTIVES:

As a state agency, this Department adheres to the guidance and procurement regulations enacted by New Jersey Law, Governor's Executive Order, or General Services Administration Procurement Circulars, as published or amended, regarding any manner of procurement of commodities, services or items.



V. PURCHASING RESPONSIBILITY & AUTHORITY:

A. NJDMAVA has the authority to engage in purchase transactions with vendors for the purpose of fulfilling the Department's mission. (Refer to the Code of Ethics for Vendors, NJDMAVA Form 010/1-4, 1 MAR 89 - Attachment I.)

B. Departmental authority has been delegated through a system of Program and Account Managers, who are charged to act in a responsible and professional manner in exercising this delegated Departmental authority.

C. Use of Delegated Purchase Authorization (DPA) is prescribed in PC-23H. Direct Purchase Authorization limits are as follows:

 
 

1. No price competition is required for DPAs not exceeding $500.

2. Telephone Quotations are required for DPAs of more than $500 but less than $3,500.

3. Written sealed quotations are required for all DPAs exceeding $3,500 but are less than $11,000. Business Managers may conduct this action if delegated this authority from the Department. NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau will accomplish this action for all other Managers.


D. All non-contract purchases exceeding $11,000 will be requested through NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau to the State Purchase Bureau.

E. NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau is responsible for direct coordination and serves as point-of-contact with the State Purchase Bureau on all issues and transactions involving the State Purchase Bureau.

F. Confirming Orders are discouraged and should be used only to satisfy the requirements of an immediate need or an emergency. All previously mentioned guidance and limits are applicable and must be followed.

G. Emergency purchases must be justified, documented and signed by the Program/Account Manager. This documentation is made part of the purchase record.

 

VI. PURCHASING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES:

A. The NJDMAVA Fiscal Division and Purchase Bureau have established the following guidelines to be followed when using this Department's Purchase Authority.
 
 

1. All Account Managers will submit a completed DPA - PB2 PURCHASE REQUEST FORM to NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau or appropriate Business Manager to request an Agency Purchase Order. This form is used to identify either contract or non-contract anticipated purchase within the State Purchase Procedures. It may also be used to request Agency Bid Proposals in the amounts of $3,500 to $11,000. Bid specifications must be detailed and complete. Emergency service/repairs must be completely detailed on the reverse side of this form. Names of all vendors contacted must be shown with reason for non-selection. Recommend the use of a Form PB119 for this purpose.

2. Agency Purchase Orders will only be issued against established accounts which "have funding available" to support the transaction. The Agency Purchase Order Document is also used as a "Blanket Order" for "certain commodities". Blanket orders are issued as a result of an Agency Bid Proposal which conforms to the non-contract purchase procedures or a State Contract (Utilities, Fuel Oil...etc.) Commodities and services can be purchased through the method prescribed in the contract within the dollar limits imposed by the requirement(s) of each contract. All commodities and services available through the State Distribution Center or State Use Industries MUST be purchased from these sources before consideration is given to Annual Term Contracts or any other supplier.

3. A PB6 Requisition is required for any purchase of $11,000 or greater or when it is the method of purchase specified in an annual term contract. All PB6 Requisitions will be prepared and processed by NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau. Managers will submit a completed and typewritten "PB6B Requisition Worksheet" to support the action. Funds must be available in the account for the requisitions to be processed.

4. All emergency purchases exceeding $3,500 but less than $11,000 must be reported to NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau as soon as possible but NO LATER THAN close of business (COB) of the next normal workday. NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau will advise the Director, NJDMAVA Fiscal Division of the incident.

5. Managers will check details of State contracts, terms and conditions and pricing prior to request/issue of a Purchase Order or making an Agreement (Implied Purchase) with any vendor. If a vendor offers a substitute item or any other difference from the published contract; contact NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau for interpretation and ruling.

6. Purchase and Accounting documents are to be processed in sufficient time to take advantage of applicable discounts and comply with vendors terms of payment. Vendors are now in a position, due to the passage of the "Prompt Payment Act" to charge interest for late payments.


B. Purchases "will not be divided into smaller orders of $500 or less to avoid price competition" or into two or more orders not exceeding $11,000 to circumvent the stated limits. Business and Account Managers, who knowingly and willfully, have vendors adjust dates of sale, invoice numbers, charge slips or other documentation to avoid price competition or for any other advantage are in violation of New Jersey Public Laws concerning Public Bid and New Jersey State Purchasing Regulations.

C. Documentation of Telephone Quotations (PB119) and written quotations (PB120) are required by the NJ State Purchasing regulation.

D. The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is an advocate and strong supporter of the Governor's program on "Contracts for Small Businesses, Female Businesses and Minority Businesses". Each Manager is expected whenever possible to purchase from or contract with State Certified Small, Female or Minority owned Business as per the guidelines of Chapter 12 N.J.A.C. and goals as set by the Department.

 

VII. FORMS:


A. PB 2 PO (8/93) AGENCY PURCHASE ORDER: is a commitment between the State and a vendor for commodities and/or services at a given price.

B. PB 5 PO GSA PURCHASE BUREAU PURCHASE ORDER: is issued by the State Purchase Bureau as a result of a PB6-Requisition Encumbrance. It may be for a commodity or services on a one time basis or as a Blanket Order providing commodities or services for a period of time or until funding is exhausted.

C. PB FORM 6 - REQUISITION/ENCUMBRANCE: reserves funds prior to issuance of PB5PO Purchase Order by State Purchase Bureau. It may be generated because of a contract requirement or non-contract requirement.

D. PB FORM 6B - REQUISITION WORKSHEET: is used by Managers to request a PB6 Requisition/Encumbrance for dollar amounts which exceed Agency Bid Request or as specified in State Annual Term Contracts.

E. PB FORM 36 - USING AGENCY COMPLAINT REPORT: Completed by NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau based on memo from Business Managers containing detail of a vendors lack of performance or on unsatisfactory commodities.

F. PB FORM 119 - SUMMARY OF TELEPHONE QUOTATIONS: is used to record and determine price competition on non-contract commodities or services from $500 to $3,500. This document is subject to State as well as Departmental audit. The Account Manager/designee shall complete the PB119 and attach to all non-contract purchase request.

G. PB FORM 120 - AGENCY BID REQUEST: is used by NJDMAVA Purchase Bureau and Facility Business Offices to advertise for commodities and services of a non-contract nature. Specifications for commodities and services must be detailed or attached. Anticipated costs must be within non-contract purchase limits. This document is subject to State, as well as, Departmental audit.

H. PB FORM 129 - REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF ADVERTISING: is initiated for certain cases when the public advertising of bids for commodities/services is not practicable. All Waivers of Advertisement are signed by The Adjutant General. Use is restricted.

I. PBPV1 (3/93) PAYMENT VOUCHER (VENDOR INVOICE): is used by the vendor to request payment for commodities or services rendered as a result of an Agency Purchase Order, State Purchase Bureau Purchase Order.

J. REQUEST FOR PURCHASE: is used to identify either contract or non-contract anticipated purchases within the State Purchase Procedures. This form is to be completed by the Program/Account Manager. It may also be used to initiate an Agency Bid Request. Emergency service/repairs must also be completely detailed on the reverse side of the form.

Revised: July 1998


BUSINESS OFFICE  - 44-02-002

 

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