HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 3 PURCHASE SUPPLIES 5-1-89 REPORTS
A_GENDA- -,
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
,
WILLIAH A. HUSTON, CITY MANACEE
RONALD A. NAULT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
PURCHASE. OF SUPPLIES FROM PARAMOUNT STATIONERS
RECOHHENDATION:
Receive and file
DISCUSSION:
At their meeting of April 17, the question was asked by the
Council, why we purchased so much from Paramount Stationers on
the last warrant demand list, and not local stationers. I was
asked to report back to the Council at the May 1 meeting.
·
It has always-been the City's policy that all purchases be made
in accordance with Ordinance No. 871, stating .the purchasing
procedures of the City of Tustin. Section 1625 d, (4) states all
open market purchases shall be awarded to the lowest and best
responsible bidder. However, price and quality being equal,
preference shall generally be given to responsible local bidders.
Purchases of office supplies is .considered an open market
purchase.
While we do not have centralized purchasing, each Department Head
is delegated as the purchasing officer, alnd must comply with
Ordinance No. 871. My secretary annually surveys the vendors of
office supplies. She uses a sampling of typical high use items
such as canary pads, file folders, pendaflex hangers, pencils and
pens, etc. She will do a telephone survey and use quantities
that can easily be received and stored by an individual
department. The local stationers are included in this survey.
We've found that in general all the stationers individual
catalogs show about the same retail pricing. When an order is
called in, or time permitting, a price survey completed, the
discounted price will be quoted. The larger stationers will also
send out smaller sale/promotional catalogs pretty regularly. We
do have to pay a shipping charge, on some orders, but the cost
savings more than makes up for this additional charge. One out
of state vendor that we've found discounts as much as 65 percent,
and does not charge shippin~ or sales tax.
·
O-ur most recent survey included; Tustin Stationers, Royale
Stationers; Paramount Stationers; Palm Stationers; Eastman
Stationers; Regal Stationers; and.Reliable Stationers Out of
Page 2
April 26, 1989
Chicago. By purchasing from one of the larger stationary vendors
which are located out of the City, we are realizing a savings of
at least 30 percent and in some cases as high as 58 percent.
This puts the comparison beyond the bounds of price and quality
being equal.
Director of Finance
RAN:is