INTRODUCTION

This summary is designed to help your company participate in the market created by the County's needs. The demand for goods and services within the County results in a continuous need for items of every nature and description. Chances are that the County is in the market for the items/services you sell. We hope this summary will help you become familiar with our policies and procedures for procurement, which in turn will aid in selling your products/services to the County.

DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION

County purchasing procedures are governed by Texas statutes, Local Government Code, Chapter 262. These statutes, including interpretations of them made by Texas courts, are the ultimate authority on the validity of purchasing procedures. The Purchasing Department is a member of the administrative team of Collin County. The Purchasing Agent of Collin County is charged with the responsibility of purchasing all supplies, materials, and equipment required or used, and contract for repairs to property used by the County and supervises all purchases and contracts required by law to be made on competitive bid. The Purchasing Agent maintains surplus inventory and disposes of all excess, obsolete or unserviceable equipment by auction, or other means as provided by law.

It is the policy of Collin County that all purchasing shall be conducted strictly in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and policies adopted by the Collin County Commissioners' Court. The County will consider:

• The price
• The quality of the product
• The suitability of the product for the intended use.
• The ability, experience, efficiency, integrity, and financial responsibility of the bidder. Where appropriate, the County shall require the bidder to demonstrate that it has a good safety record.

HOW DO I CONTACT PURCHASING?

Collin County Purchasing
Collin County Government Center, Annex A
200 S. McDonald St., Suite 230
McKinney, TX 75069

WHAT PROCUREMENT METHODS ARE USED?

Purchases Under $25,000

• Informal Telephone Quotes/Fax Quotes
• Request for Quotations (RFQ)

Purchases Exceeding $25,000

• Invitation for Bid (IFB)
• Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Request for Information (RFI)

Cooperative Government Contracts

• Qualified Information Systems Vendor (QISV)
• State Contracts
• Interlocal Government Contracts

HOW DO I GET ON BIDDER'S LIST?

Collin County has joined with RFP Depot, LLC, for distribution of solicitation information. Vendors who register with RFP Depot, LLC (www.rfpdepot.com) receive automatic notification regarding bids in their commodity class and may download specifications. This system brings together an extensive database of government agencies and vendors which enables us to improve our service to you by providing automatic bid notification and instant access to bid information via the web.

Collin County strongly urges ALL potential bidders to register with RFP Depot LLC (www.rfpdepot.com) to ensure notice of all solicitations.

General information regarding current solicitations is available on the County's web site.

Vendors remain on the bidders' list as long as they continue in good standing with Collin County and return a bid request or respond with a "No Bid" to bid requests.

WHERE AND WHEN ARE SOLICITATIONS ADVERTISED?

• Normally on Thursdays in the McKinney Courier Gazette.
• IFB/RFP solicitation notices are also listed on the County's web site by selecting "Current Bids".
• IFB/RFP specifications are listed and disseminated by RFP Depot LLC at www.RFPDepot.com for construction related projects.

HOW CAN I RECEIVE SOLICITAION INFORMATION?

• Vendors registered with RFP Depot LLC at www.RFPDepot.com will automatically receive notification of IFB's, RFP's, RFI's, and RFQ's for the commodities they have chosen.
• A list of current IFB's, RFP's, RFI's, and RFQ's will be displayed on the Purchasing website, under "Solicitations".
• Vendors registered with RFP DEPOT (www.rfpdepot.com) will be able to download IFB's, RFP's, RFI's, and RFQ's directly from the website at no charge.

WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY RESPONSES TO IFB's/RFP's/RFI's/RFQ's ?

Collin County prefers to receive all responses electronically. Responses may be submitted in electronic format via RFP Depot, LLC (www.rfpdepot.com).

Hard Copy submittals will be accepted at the following address:

Collin County Purchasing Department
Collin County Courthouse Annex A
200 S. McDonald St., Ste 230
McKinney, Texas 75069

By the date and time specified in each IFB/RFP.

CAN AN IFB/RFP BE SENT BY FACSIMILIE?

At this time there is no allowance or web site for the RECEIPT of IFB's/RFP's by facsimile.

WHEN AND WHERE ARE IFB's/RFP's OPENED?

Collin County Courthouse
200 S. McDonald St., Ste 230
McKinney, Texas 75069

IFB's/RFP's are opened on the Date, Time and Room location specified in each individual IFB/RFP.

WHO CAN ATTEND THE SOLICITATION OPENINGS?

Except for Competitive Sealed Proposals for high technology, insurance and professional services, interested parties are always welcome at Sealed Bid Openings.

WHO WILL SEE MY PRICES?

Except for Requests for Proposals, all solicitations are public information once they have been opened.

MAY I SUBMIT A LATE SOLICITATION RESPONSE?

Collin County does not accept late sealed bids/competitive sealed proposals. The time/date stamp clock in the Collin County Purchasing Department, 200 S McDonald Street, #230, McKinney, Tx 75069 office shall be the official time of receipt for all Invitation for Bids (IFB) and Request for Proposals (RFP). IFB's and/or RFP's received after submission deadline shall be returned unopened and will be considered void and unacceptable.

WHAT FACTORS DETERMINED TO WHOM THE SOLICITATION IS AWARDED?

All solicitations are awarded to the responsible bidder who submits the lowest and best bid taking into consideration all evaluating factors. All sealed bids (purchases exceeding $25,000) are submitted to Commissioners' Court for award. Awards on quotations for products and services under $25,000 are determined by the Purchasing Department.

WHERE DO I SEND INVOICES?

Collin County Auditor's Office
200 S. McDonald St., Ste 300
McKinney, Texas 75069

WHEN CAN I SEE A BUYER OR CONTACT ADMINISTRATOR?

Collin County Purchasing Department personnel are available Monday through Friday from 8:00A.M to 5:00P.M., However, due to workloads it is advisable to call ahead for an appointment.

COOPERATIVE PURCHASING

Collin County is a member of the Collin County Governmental Purchasers Forum.