How To Do Business With The City

The City of Victoria Purchasing Department is responsible for organizing and administering the procurement of supplies, equipment, and services in a prompt, efficient and cost effective manner that adheres to all related State of Texas purchasing statutes and the City's internal purchasing policy. This is best accomplished by standardization, competitive bidding on the basis of adequate specifications and cooperative purchasing contracts.

Purchasing Department

• Provide the best service possible to all City departments in a fair and equitable manner.

• Ensure an atmosphere of equality to all vendors without regard to undue influence.

• Protect the interests of the City of Victoria taxpayers in all expenditures.

Procurement Procedures

New vendors that are interested in providing any goods or services to the City should register with the Bid Net Direct – Texas Purchasing Group and choose the Automatic Email Notification (recommended).

The City of Victoria utilizes the Bid Net Direct - Texas Purchasing Group for most purchases under $50,000.

Legal Notices for Formal Sealed Bid solicitations are published in the local newspaper, the Victoria Advocate.

Procurement Methods

All purchases made on behalf of the City must be secured by the following:

• Petty Cash — current Petty Cash limit is $100.00.

• City Purchasing Card - purchases may be made up to $1,000.00 by an authorized cardholder.

• Purchase Order - for orders exceeding $1,000.00, a Purchase Order is required and must be issued by Purchasing Department Staff

Purchase Orders

The Purchase Order issued and subsequently accepted by the vendor is a legal binding contract agreement between the vendor and the City. The Purchase Order is sent electronically to the vendor by the Purchasing Department. Suppliers are expected to fulfill orders in accordance with the terms and conditions, specifications, and any applicable bid or proposal.

Interlocal Contract Sources

The City participates in the following Purchasing Cooperatives, which utilize negotiated contracts that have been competitively bid.

Texas State Comptroller's Office www.window.state.tx.us/procurement/prog.cmbl

Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) www.hgacbuy.com

The Texas Local government Purchasing cooperative "Buyboard" www.buyboard.com

U.S. Communities www.uscommunities.org

National Purchasing Partners https://mynpp.com

Choice Partners www.choicepartners.org

General Services Administration —GSA-www.gsa.gov

The Interlocal Purchasing System www.tips-usa.com

National Joint Purchasing Alliance www.njpacoop.org

National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance www.ncpa.us

Professional Affiliations

The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing

National Purchasing Institute

Texas Public Purchasing Association

Surplus Property Auctions

City Surplus Property is offered for sale via the GovDeals online auction service. Please see (GovDeals) for a listing of all current surplus property for sale.

Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBS)

As required by the Texas Local Government Code, the City seeks the participation of state registered minority and woman-owned businesses located in Victoria County for all purchases between $3,000.00 and $50,000.00. To find out how your business may qualify, please see (https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/) or contact the City of Victoria Development Services Department Planning Division at 361-485-3360.

Tax Exemptions

The City of Victoria is exempt from Federal Excise tax as well as State Sales and Use taxes. Taxes that are included on invoices will not be paid. A tax exemption certificate can be provided upon request.