§ 10-2-309. EMERGENCY PURCHASES.

(a)

Emergency during business hours.

(1)

If an emergency occurs during regular county business hours, the agency immediately shall notify the Purchasing Agent.

(2)

The Purchasing Agent shall:

(i)

Purchase the required commodities or services; or

(ii)

Authorize the agency to purchase the required commodities or services.

(b)

Emergency at other times.

(1)

If an emergency occurs at times other than regular county business hours, the agency may purchase directly the required commodities or services.

(2)

In making a purchase under this subsection, the agency shall:

(i)

Whenever practical, secure competitive telephone bids and order delivery to be made by the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; and

(ii)

Not later than the following regular county business day, submit to the Purchasing Agent:

1.

A requisition;

2.

A tabulation of bids received, if any;

3.

A copy of the delivery record; and

4.

A written explanation of the circumstances of the emergency.

(c)

Certification not required. The Director of Budget and Finance's certification required under § 10-2-304 of this subtitle does not apply to emergency purchases.

(d)

Purchasing Agent to keep files.

(1)

The Purchasing Agent shall maintain a complete, current file record explaining or otherwise supporting the particular basis on which each emergency purchase was made.

(2)

The records shall be available for public inspection during regular county business hours in the Purchasing Agent's main offices.

(e)

Reduction of emergency purchases. When practical, the Purchasing Agent shall endeavor to reduce emergency purchases by use of price agreements and other purchasing methods.

(1988 Code, §§ 15-84, 15-90) (Bill No. 171, 1989, § 1, 1-20-1990; Bill No. 69-95, § 6, 7-1-1995; Bill No. 49-96, § 7, 7-1-1996; Bill No. 65-98, § 1, 7-10-1998; Bill No. 83-00, § 2, 7-1-2004)