Howard County                                   2795

(4) (5) The procedure for submission, examination and approval
of invoices for supplies, professional and contractual services delivered
or rendered to using agencies.

(5) (6) The procedure followed in adopting and maintaining a
vendor's catalog file containing descriptions of vendor's commodities,
prices and discounts.

(6) (7) The procedure to be observed by agencies and the purchas-
ing agent in the development of a program for bulk purchases, including
those calling for the filing by agencies, with the purchasing agent, of
detailed estimates of future needs for such future periods as the purchasing
agent may prescribe.

(7) (8) Procedures facilitating reduction, to the maximum extent
possible, in the number of purchase transactions by combining into bulk
orders and the contracts the requirements of agencies for common-use
items or items repetitively purchased.

(8) (9) Procedures involving the development in AND use of those
types of contracts and purchase orders which will reduce to the minimum
the accompanying paper work and which, in other respects, will be most
advantageous to the County.

(9) (10) The terms and conditions under which agency heads,
department heads, chairmen of boards, etc., shall have authority to submit
requisitions to the purchasing agent for supplies, professional services, or
contractual services available under price agreement contracts made by
the purchasing agent.

(10)     (11) The procedure to be observed by agencies and the pur-
chasing agent in obtaining full and open competition wherever possible
on all purchases and sales.

(11)     (12) The procedure under which, by express authorization in
writing of the purchasing agent, an agency may be exempted from the
rules and regulations for specified supplies or contractual services; pro-
vided, however, that the purchasing agent shall require that such purchases
or contracts shall be made in conformity with applicable provisions of
this subtitle and shall further require periodic reports from the agency
on purchases and contracts made under such written authorization may be
withdrawn from the agency at any time by the purchasing agent. Notwith-
standing such exemptions from the rules and regulations as may be ap-
proved by the purchasing agent from time to time, it is intended that
exemptions shall be kept to a minimum and periodically reviewed and
shall be approved by the purchasing agent only for good and sufficient
reasons stated in writing and filed with the agency's request.

(12)     (13) Such other matters as may be necessary to give effect
to the foregoing rules and regulations and to the provisions of the Howard
County Charter. The statement of rules and regulations, and the manual
covering same, shall represent a complete statement of all procedures under
the County's purchasing system.

4.105—Competitive Bidding Required

All supplies and contractual services, except as provided herein, when
the estimated cost thereof shall exceed Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00)
TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($2,500.00) shall be
purchased by formal, written contract from the lowest responsible bidder
after public notice inviting proposals. All sales of personal property which