To help streamline the processes, the department has developed more than 10 county-wide term contracts. Each combines the routine needs of several county agencies--such as purchasing general office supplies, gasoline and auto parts for county vehicles, or housekeeping and janitorial materials--into one competitive bid contract. By reducing the number of bids and contracts, the department eliminates duplication of services, which saves Franklin County hundreds of thousands annually.

The department also accepts competitive bids for contract services necessary to operate county facilities. These services include building security, waste removal and inmate health care. In addition, the department manages an in-house print shop and an in-house mail room. These services alone save taxpayers more than $400,000 annually by eliminating the need for outside vendors, as well as the duplication of staff and equipment among county agencies.

The Purchasing Department falls directly under the Franklin County Commissioners' authority and provides centralized services to county agencies, boards, and commissions. The department provides mail, printing, and purchasing support. The central mail room picks-up, processes, and delivers outgoing U.S. mail and interoffice mail. The print shop provides layout and typesetting services of forms, brochures, and annual reports. These are then produced on high-volume reproduction machines or printing presses and finished to customers specifications. The purchasing division provides central purchasing management over decentralized purchase orders processing. Additionally, the division competitively bids requirements that exceed the competitive bid threshold and develops countywide term contracts for specific commodities to achieve cost savings for the county. The department is also responsible for the Small and Emerging Business Outreach Program. This program seeks to reach out to the county procurement processes and opportunities to do business with the county.

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