Every July 15, state agencies are required to submit a certification to the Purchasing Division certifying that all of the agency’s fixed assets with an acquisition value of $1,000 or more have been entered into the West Virginia Information Management System (WVFIMS) Fixed Assets System.

The Inventory Management and WVFIMS Fixed Assets Training Manual is available electronically at the Purchasing Division’s website at www.state.wv.us/admin/purchase/surplus.

"Some agencies continue to dispose of equipment improperly," said Frye. "State agencies should be reminded that all obsolete equipment, regardless of cost, must be disposed of to the Surplus Property Unit of the Purchasing Division. It is the responsibility of the agency inventory coordinators to inform all of their employees within their agency of the proper disposition procedures."
Should you have questions or comments relating to inventory procedures or the proper disposition of equipment, please contact Ken Frye, Assistant Director of the Program Services Section, at 766-2626 or via e-mail at: kfrye@wvadmin.gov.

Please note that due to the Purchasing Division's reorganization, Ken Frye will be physically located at the division's Charleston office at 2019 Washington Street , East, on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week.

"The Inventory Management and WVFIMS Fixed Assets Training Manual is a helpful tool for agency coordinators to use when preparing the proper documentation and taking the appropriate action in regard to their fixed assets," Frye said. "I look forward to meeting many of the agency inventory coordinators in the near future."

The eight-hour class is titled, "Adding Value to the Procurement Process." Intended for both the new and veteran purchasers, this seminar will focus on ways the professional purchaser adds value to the procurement process by illustrating how the purchase can enhance both the process and relations with customers and suppliers. Some topics of discussion include perspectives on value, identifying the customer, procurement goals, evaluating the process, streamlining the process, communication, value analysis techniques and short- and long-term strategies.

If interested in attending this training seminar, please e-mail Diane Holley at dholley@wvadmin.gov or call at 558-0661, so that we can forward you additional details, including seminar cost and lodging information.

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I ask for your patience when our reception area staff requests that you sign in while your presence is being announced to the respective party you wish to see. Thank you for your cooperation.

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In accordance with a memorandum from Purchasing Director Dave Tincher on June 14, 2004, the purchase of advertising is no longer permitted to be made under the Purchasing Division Policies and Procedures Handbook, Section Nine: Sole Source Acquisitions. All purchases of advertising require competition and public advertisement at the appropriate levels in accordance with handbook procedures.

Additional instructions regarding Section Nine will be distributed soon.

Agency purchasers are reminded that West Virginia Code, §5A-3-13, requires all contracts to be approved 'as to form' by the West Virginia Attorney General's Office. The Attorney General's Office has previously advised that this provision only applies to contracts in excess of $10,000.

Don’t forget your change
Last year, passengers left a total of $303,970 in loose change at airport metal detectors.

The U.S. Treasury gets the money. Los Angeles International Airport, the nation’s fourth-busiest, raked in the most, $16,857, says the Transportation Security Administration.

The busiest airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, had only $4,551. Las Vegas’ McCarran, thanks to its slot machines, found $14,709.

Next time you forget your change, just consider it a donation to the national debt, say the editors of Business Week.

Implants and security alarms

Implants such as cobalt-chrome hip replacements always set off airport metal detectors. Cobalt chrome is often used in implants with hip and knee replacements being the most common.

The Transportation Security Administration says that with today’s more sensitive equipment, it’s very common that people get stopped. Screeners resolve the alarm with a hand wand or pat down to find out what set off the detector.

Of implants surveyed by United Kingdom researchers, 70 percent say they weren’t told their implant could set off security devices.

Questions regarding state travel issues should be directed to State Travel Manager Catherine DeMarco at cdemarco@wvadmin.gov.

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The Purchasing Division is pleased to continue a worthwhile recognition program that began several years ago and is going strong.

Nominations for the Agency Procurement Officer of the Year and the Partner in Purchasing award programs, sponsored by the Purchasing Division, are being accepted through July 16, 2004. Agency procurement officers were mailed detailed information, along with the nomination forms; however, the forms are also available electronically on the Purchasing Division’s Intranet website at:

The Agency Procurement Officer of the Year program recognizes individuals who have demonstrated high levels of performance and professionalism. This program provides an avenue for agency procurement officers to nominate co-workers and colleagues who have served as role models in the purchasing profession.

An evaluation team will select the Agency Procurement Officer of the Year based on the established criteria. Past winners of this award include Edi Barker (BEP); Susie Teel (DHHR); Lt. Col. Jim Powers (State Police); Jo Miller (DHHR); Lendin Conway (DEP); Ratha Boggess (Treasurer’s Office) and Syble Adkins (Tax).

In addition, the Purchasing Division is accepting nomination forms for our Partner in Purchasing program, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated high levels of performance and professionalism in working with various programs administered by the Purchasing Division: Capitol Parking, Fleet Management, Fixed Assets, Surplus Property, TEAM and Travel Management.

A similar criteria has been established to assist those making the nominations. As with the Procurement Officer of the Year award, the selection will be based solely on the information submitted on the nomination form.

An evaluation team will select the Partner in Purchasing based on the respective criteria. Past winners of this award include Brent Kessinger (DEP); Barbara Haddad (IS&C); Susie  Teel (DHHR); June Casto (DEP); and Pat Hotsclaw (ABCC).

Due to the cancellation of this year’s purchasing conference, at which the recipient of this award has in the past been announced, the honored recipient of the Agency Procurement Officer of the Year and Partner in Purchasing will be recognized at a special ceremony at the Purchasing Division at a date yet to be announced.

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In accordance with §15-5-6(g) of the West Virginia Code, the governor has the authority to suspend certain laws, rules and/or regulations regarding the acquisition of commodities and services by public organizations in the event the governor declares an emergency.

Public purchasing procedures were developed to be implemented by all public organizations in declared emergency situations. These procedures are to ensure that, even in emergency situations, public officials are to conduct business ethically and efficiently by seeking competition for commodities and services and maintaining complete documentation for all purchasing transactions.

Accordingly, should the Governor suspend said laws, rules and/or regulations, the following procedures shall apply:

1. The employees or representatives of the public organizations shall exercise sound judgment and discretion when acquiring commodities and services related to the emergency.

2. The employees or representatives of the public organizations shall operate with highest ideals of honor and integrity and strive to avoid the appearance of perceived impropriety.

3. No person shall corruptly combine, collude, or conspire with one or more persons to lessen competition, cause a higher price to be paid or cause one vendor to be preferred over one or more other prospective vendors.

4. No person shall solicit or receive anything of value, directly or indirectly, now or in the future, from any vendor or person supplying commodities or services in relation to the emergency.

5. The acquisition of commodities and services not on contract and in excess of $1,000 but less than $5,000 shall at all times be based on three competitive bids. Bids may be verbal but shall be summarized and documented and include the date of purchase, vendor, dollar amount, commodity or service description, quantity, number of bids obtained and whether the award was made to the low bidder.

6. The acquisition of commodities and services not on contract and in excess of $5,000 shall be based on three written bids which shall be documented and include the date of purchase, vendor, dollar amount, commodity or service description, quantity, number of bids obtained and whether the award was made to the low bidder.

7. If, in the opinion of the public organizations, using sound judgment and discretion, time does not permit written bids to be received, verbal bids shall be obtained and documented, with written bids received within five working days of the request.

8. The public organizations shall be responsible for developing specifica-tions for commodities and services that do not favor a particular brand or vendor.

9. If, in the opinion of the public organization, using sound judgment and discretion, time does not permit verbal bids to be received, the public organization must secure written approval from the agency head (mayor, county commissioner, governor, etc.) to secure necessary services and supplies without bids for only that period of time absolutely necessary to abate the emergency.

10. All purchase order and/or contract awards shall be made to the lowest, re-sponsible bidder meeting specifications.

11. Should the award not be made to the lowest priced bidder, a written justification shall be placed on file with the bids that documents the reason the low price was rejected. This justification must be signed by the head of the public organization.

12. Any contract and/or purchase order in excess of $100,000 shall be reviewed, approved and signed by the head of the public agency.

13. The public organizations shall document each expenditure and include specifications, bids, no-bids, award justifications and any other relevant data.

14. The documentation for each expenditure shall be complete and shall be kept in an orderly manner that will enable any interested party to understand specifics of the expenditure.

15. A complete written record of all expenditures relating to the emergency shall be submitted to the Governor within 30 days of the expiration of the declaration of the emergency.

16. The written record shall include a summary sheet that details all acquisitions for the emergency and lists date of purchase, vendor, dollar amount, commodity or service description, quantity, number of bids obtained and whether the award was made to the low bidder.

17. The Governor reserves the right to remove the spending authority at any time during the emergency and appoint a person or organization to manage the emergency expenditures and/or transfer that authority to another organization.

18. All emergency expenditures are subject to complete review and/or thorough audit as requested by the Governor.

19. The Governor reserves the right to amend, alter, or cancel these procedures as necessary through written amendments, alterations or cancellations with justification and documentation of specific situations and reasons.

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www.stephens-wv. fivestardealers.com

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Online Lender Right for You?

If you are looking for a mortgage and are a well-qualified borrower with no problems, getting a mortgage over the Internet could work fine for you. No-brainer loans are their speciality.

Dian Hymer, author of Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer’s Guide, Chronicle Books, says if the loan is anything but simple, you would be better off using a conventional lender.

Be cautious. Those handling the loans are often not experienced. Borrowers should monitor the process every step of the way to be sure that fees are correct, that local laws are followed, and that the mortgage closes on time.

Make more than one application.

(This information is compiled from the West Virginia Purchasing Bulletin. The purpose is to provide an awareness of the variety of products and services being procured in state government. Only a small sample of solicitations are listed.)

• All State Agencies

     Request to provide food products to West Virginia agencies for an open-end contract.

• Department of Education

     Request to provide linen service for Cedar Lakes at Ripley, West Virginia.

• Department of Environmental Protection

     Request to move six DEP locations to its new Kanawha City location.

• Department of Environmental Protection

     Request for a reclamation contract for 1 acre distrubance located near Malden, West Virginia (Kanawha County)

• Division of Highways

               Request to install and/or replace traffic signal embedded inductive loops statewide.

CURRENT STATEWIDE CONTRACT UPDATE

Purchasing Division Staff
For questions concerning these contracts listed, please contact the appropriate buyer:

File 31
Evan Williams
(558-2596)

File 31
Mike Sheets
(558-2544)