DOCUMENT

POL - Practice - Code of Ethics, N/A

  • ENTITY TYPE: County
  • TYPE OF DOCUMENT: POL - Policies/Procedures
This document is the Code of Ethics for the Accreditation OA4 Award in purchasing principles and policies. It outlines the principles that personnel associated with the purchasing function should adhere to, such as considering the interests of the County, following established policies, seeking competent counsel, and striving for knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes. The document also emphasizes the importance of honesty, denouncing commercial bribery, and promoting equal business opportunities. In terms of policies, the document highlights the objective of centralized purchasing in Howard County, which is to maximize the benefit from tax dollars spent. The Office of Purchasing is responsible for centralized purchasing of supplies and services for the County government. The document also addresses ethics and professional conduct, stating that employees are prohibited from accepting gifts, entertainment, or other gratuities from vendors or bidders, except for items of negligible value used as obvious forms of advertisement. Vendors or bidders who offer such gratuities may be declared irresponsible bidders and face potential debarment. Employees who accept such gratuities are subject to disciplinary action. Regarding relations with vendors, the document states that officers or employees of the County (excluding those in the Office of Purchasing) should not negotiate directly or indirectly for supplies or services, except in emergencies or with the approval of the Chief of Purchasing. The Office of Purchasing is responsible for purchasing supplies or services for the private use of employees, and it is encouraged to discourage uniform bidding. Vendor contact with employees in user agencies should be through or with the knowledge of the appropriate purchasing representative to prevent vendors from bypassing the Office of Purchasing. Lastly, the document mentions the importance of the Office of Purchasing familiarizing itself with the specific requirements of various agencies and being receptive to suggestions or comments.
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