1108 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 871

(b) The Purchasing Agent shall determine and formulate
standards of all materials, supplies and equipment to be pur-
chased for the using authorities of the County.

(c) It shall be the duty of the Purchasing Agent to contract
for or purchase all materials, supplies, and equipment, except
those which the Purchasing Agent may determine are of a
strictly perishable character, or which the Purchasing Agent
may determine it is impracticable for the using authorities to
purchase through or with the approval of the Purchasing
Agent, or which may be purchased by using authorities under
the authority and with the approval of the Purchasing Agent.
The Purchasing Agent shall notify the County Commissioners
of any authorizations made by him for the pur. chase of any
materials, supplies or equipment by the using authorities. Be-
fore proceeding with the purchase of any item of equipment to
cost more than Four Hundred Dollars ($400) or any material
needed in connection with road repair or construction or any
other public construction to cost more than One Thousand Dol-
lars ($1, 000), the Purchasing Agent is required to have the
authorization of the Board of County Commissioners stated in
formal resolution of the Board, except where such purchases
are to be made for the Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission or Liquor Control Board in which case
the formal resolution of approval of that Commission shall be
first obtained.

In the case of any purchase for any using authority, the Pur-
chasing Agent shall satisfy himself that money to pay for the
purchase has been included in the current annual budget allow-
ance of the using authority in question, and if such is not the
case the Purchasing Agent is required to obtain the approval
of the County Commissioners stated in formal resolution before
contracting for such a purchase.

(d) Estimates of the amount and quality of materials, sup-
plies, and equipment needed by the using authorities shall be
submitted at such periods as may be prescribed by the Purchas-
ing Agent. When purchases are made through competitive
bidding, the Purchasing Agent may require the successful bid-
der to furnish a bond to the County Commissioners of Mont-
gomery County, with good and sufficient surety, conditioned
that he will fully and faithfully perform the terms of the con-
tract. The penalty of all such bonds shall be determined by the
said Purchasing Agent, and enforced by Attorney to the Board
of County Commissioners.

(e) No invoices for materials, supplies or equipment pur-
chased by the Purchasing Agent or the using authorities, shall
be paid until such invoices shall have received the approval of
the Purchasing Agent.