SECTION 8:  QUALITY ASSURANCE

8.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE:

Quality assurance is a partnership involving the state agency, the vendor and the Purchasing Division. The agency establishes the quality level by the specifications, and the Purchasing Division seeks to reduce cost and maintain quality through the competitive bid process. The agency and the Purchasing Division perform an evaluation of the offers by bidders to obtain maximum benefit for the tax dollars spent. The vendor’s responsibility is to provide the quality level established by the specifications and accepted by the agency.

8.1 Agency Responsibilities

8.1.1 Proper Acquisition Planning: The agency’s first step is to determine the commodity that is needed, the quantity, the quality level, delivery location and time frame. All offers in the evaluation process will be compared to the standards established in the specifications for award.

8.1.2 Receiving: State agency personnel must verify the shipment of commodities with the specifications in the purchase order while reporting of any discrepancies, obvious damages or shortages based upon the purchase order specifications. (See Section 5.3)

8.1.3 Closing of Purchase Order: Agencies should close all encumbered purchase orders in wvOASIS after receipt of commodities or last payment made.

8.1.4 Inventory: Once payment has been made to the vendor and the I-document established, reportable property must be added to the wvOASIS Fixed Assets System. (See Appendix G)

8.1.5 Vendor Performance: Vendor performance and product quality is crucial in the state purchasing process. When these factors do not meet expectations, the state agency designated procurement officers are strongly encouraged to contact the vendor and voice their concerns. Agency procurement officers must document all efforts made to resolve the problem and the complaints should be resolved expeditiously and courteously. It is the responsibility of the agency procurement officer to initiate all efforts to attempt to resolve the matter and to document his or her actions.

After all attempts have failed by the agency to resolve the issues, the complaint should immediately be referred to the appropriate buyer of the Purchasing Division, who is assigned to the agency, on the Vendor Performance Report (WV-82), along with all documentation noting all steps taken to try to resolve the problem. All written vendor responses must also be included in the packet sent to the Purchasing Division buyer.

8.1.5.1 Vendor Performance Report: The Vendor Performance Report (WV- 82) is to be used to report all incidents of vendor performance, both positive and negative, even if a resolution has been reached.

When assistance is requested, a Purchasing Division official will notify the vendor directly in writing of the problem.

The Vendor Performance Report is to be sent to the appropriate buyer of the Purchasing Division who is assigned to the agency at 2019 Washington Street, East, Charleston, WV 25305.

8.2 Purchasing Division Responsibilities: The Purchasing Division is responsible for ensuring that the purchase of or contract for commodities and printing shall be based whenever possible on competitive bid.

8.2.1 Specification Review: The Purchasing Division will review all specifications submitted by an agency to ensure that the specifications are complete and open to competition.

8.2.2 Evaluation: The Purchasing Division staff reviews all evaluations and recommendations for award for validity and consistency. In Best Value Procurement techniques, the Purchasing Division requires and provides training to all agency evaluation committee members to ensure proper evaluation procedures are followed and quality evaluations are submitted in standard format. (See Section 6.2.4).

8.2.3 Contract Administration: Although the agency is responsible for monitoring vendor performance and compliance with the specifications on a daily basis, the Purchasing Division assists with dispute resolutions when needed. It is preferred that agency personnel and the vendor exhaust all avenues in an effort to resolve the dispute prior to the Purchasing Division’s intervention. Situations where the vendor has breached contract or established a pattern of poor performance, the Purchasing Division may cancel the contract and/or suspend the vendor from further participation in the competitive bid process. In the event that bonds have been posted by the vendor, the Purchasing Division may also institute action to recover any damages identified from the vendor’s surety.

8.2.4 Training: The Purchasing Division provides a variety of training to state agencies in an effort to increase the level of proficiency. Annual conferences are usually conducted for agency procurement officers.

In addition, on-going training is offered by the Purchasing Division in various methods, including the in-house training curriculum which offers classes throughout the year at the State Capitol Complex and online modules available on the Purchasing Division’s website. Webinars on various topics are also offered throughout the year.

In order to be knowledgeable of purchasing requirements, laws and procedures, it is highly recommended that agency designated procurement contacts participate in the available purchasing training opportunities. In accordance with the West Virginia Code of State Rules 148CSR1, “all purchases must be approved by the secretary or head of the spending unit, or a designee, whose name shall be filed with the Director. The person(s) named must take at least 10 hours annually of available purchasing training and have responsibility for the function of purchasing. Each spending unit shall process all purchases through this person(s), who shall be responsible for correspondence and communication with the Purchasing Division.”

The Purchasing Division strongly encourages agency procurement officers to provide additional internal training for their staff. Agency personnel should always consult with the agency procurement officer in all purchasing matters.

8.2.4.1. Mandatory Training: In accordance with West Virginia Code §5A-3-60, all executive department secretaries, commissioners, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, department heads, deputy department heads and assistant department heads are hereby required to take two hours of training on purchasing procedures and purchasing cards annually. The Director of the Purchasing Division and the State Auditor shall offer the two-hour training at least two times per year. The training shall be recorded by audio and visual means and shall be made available to the individuals listed above in the event they are unable to attend the training in person. The most current recording of the training is posted at www.state.wv.us/admin/purchase/training/mandatory.html.

All individuals required to take this training will be required to certify, in writing, on a form that is posted on the website above which verifies the date, time and location for which they took the training. Completed forms shall be returned to the Purchasing Division to be maintained.

8.3 Vendor Responsibilities: Each vendor is solely responsible for delivering a bid to the Purchasing Division prior to the specified date and time of the bid opening. The official time clock of the Purchasing Division, for the purpose of receipt of bids, shall be displayed in the offices of the Purchasing Division. Vendors are responsible for the accuracy of the information on and in the bid envelopes.

8.3.1 Compliance with Specifications:

Successful vendors are required to meet or exceed the quality level accepted and specified on the final purchase order in addition to meeting delivery requirements.

8.3.2 Follow-Up with Suppliers:

To ensure delivery deadlines are met, the vendor should communicate and coordinate with its suppliers to fulfill delivery obligations.

8.3.3 Dispute Resolution:

The vendor is required to negotiate in good faith with agency personnel should a dispute arise.

8.3.4 Remedies

In the event that a vendor fails to honor any contractual term or condition, the Director may:

(a) Cancel the contract and re-award the purchase order to the next lowest bidder (or next highest bidder if best value procurement). The vendor failing to honor contractual obligations is responsible for any increase in cost the state incurs as a result of the re-award;

(b) Declare a vendor non-responsible and refuse to award a purchase order. All such instances shall be substantiated in writing. The documentation shall be considered a public document and shall be available for inspection at all reasonable times; or

(c) Suspend, for a period not to exceed one (1) year, the right of a vendor to bid on state purchases when there is reason to believe the vendor has violated any of the provisions, terms, or conditions of a contract, this rule or state law. A suspended vendor may appeal the decision of the Director to the Secretary of Administration.

The following are adequate grounds for suspension:

(i) A vendor has exhibited a pattern of poor performance in fulfilling his or her contractual obligations to the state. Poor performance includes, but is not limited to, a vendor providing or furnishing commodities, services or printing, materials, or services late, or at a quantity or quality level below that which is specified in the contract.

(ii) The vendor has breached any contract entered into pursuant to the provisions of West Virginia Code, §5A-3-1, or West Virginia Code of State Rules; or

(iii) The vendor has been convicted of any federal, state or local crime punishable as a felony, directly related to the performance of a contract entered into pursuant to West Virginia Code, §5A-3-1 et seq. or West Virginia Code of State Rules.

(d) Debar a vendor on the basis of one or more of the grounds for debarment contained in West Virginia Code §5A-3-33b-33f or if the vendor has been declared ineligible to participate in procurement-related activities under federal laws and regulation. For a current list of debarred vendors declared by the Purchasing Division, please see www.state.wv.us/admin/purchase/debar.html.

8.3.5 Damages

A vendor who fails to perform as required under a contract shall be liable for actual damages and costs incurred by the state.

If any merchandise delivered under a contract has been used or consumed by an agency and on testing is found not to comply with specifications, no payment may be approved by the Director for the merchandise until the amount of actual damages incurred has been determined.

The Purchasing Director shall seek to collect damages by following the procedures established by the Office of the Attorney General for the collection of delinquent obligations.

Back to the Table of Contents