Contact Information, Office Hours
Functions, Department Responsibilities
FAQ's, Common Terms, History, Achievement Awards
Current bids, Procurement Ordinance

Functions

Procurement
Contracting
Contract Administration
Procurement Card Administration
Central Parts Warehousing
Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program

The Contracts and Procurement Department purchases goods, services and equipment for all departments within Charleston County Government. This department ensures the methods of procurement are equitable and that the products procured meet all bid specifications, are of high quality and the best value for the tax dollar. This department also prepares and executes all County contracts for supplies, services and construction. After award, an extensive contracts administration program goes into effect.

In order to increase the efficiency of the procurement process for small purchases, the Procurement Department implemented a Procurement-card (P-card) program. This program was implemented to empower authorized employees of Charleston County to make small purchases and to improve productivity and accountability. There are approximately 850 P-cards in use for County purchases, and every transaction is reviewed on a daily basis to ensure compliance with proper procedures. An ongoing training program for cardholders, coupled with regular re-evaluation of the program keeps this program a valuable productivity enhancer and cost controlling tool for the County.

The Central Parts Warehouse is a division of Procurement and is responsible for purchasing, maintaining and dispensing auto and truck parts in support of the County’s entire fleet of vehicles. This includes vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and Public Works, as well as the general fleet of County vehicles. The primary focus of this division is on ensuring that parts are readily available to maintain operational readiness of the County’s fleet and to balance inventories to prevent excesses and obsolescence. Central Parts processes more than 5,000 work orders a year.

The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program is the small-business development component of the Contracts and Procurement Department.  The SBE Program is race and gender neutral with an emphasis on assisting small companies to achieve maximum exposure to the public procurement process. Through partnerships with other public agencies, the opportunities extend to include county, state and federal contract readiness training. The program, which was established by County Council Ordinance, increases contract and sub-contract opportunities for small businesses through the use of mandatory contract requirements for SBE utilization. The program also includes training and networking opportunities to aid in the development of small businesses and help ready them to compete for government contracts.  The program is the first of its kind in the State of South Carolina.

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This Department Does
 

Frequently Asked Questions
 

A company should monitor this website on a daily basis, as the website is updated constantly.  All solicitations are publicly advertised on this website.

Common Terms

Invitation for Bid (IFB)-- A method of formal sealed-bid solicitation. Each sealed bid is opened in public at the Procurement Department office at the time designated in the invitation. All bids are read aloud and recorded at that time. A contract is then awarded to the lowest bidder who is determined to be responsive to the County's needs.

Request for Proposal (RFP)-- A method of formal sealed solicitation that is used for highly technical products or services. In a typical RFP, the County will solicit proposals from prospective contractors on how they intend to carry out the requirement, and at what price. This allows for all proposals to be compared to each other by the County. Responses to an RFP can be subject to negotiation after they have been submitted.

Request for Qualification (RFQ)-- A formal solicitation for particular types of professional services, such as architectural and engineering services. Firms are rated strictly on technical capabilities, experience, ability to complete the work in a timely manner, and compliance with Small Business Enterprise Program requirements.

Requisition-- A formal (written) request for purchase by a department.

Procure-- To obtain, secure, purchase, buy or contract.

Purchase Order-- A formal (written) authorization form issued by the Procurement Department to vendors, committing the County to buy the goods or services as described on the form. It also defines quantity, delivery date and price.

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History

In 1958, the position of County Purchasing Agent was established. This position worked as part of the County Manager's Office. In the late 1970s, a separate department was established. In 1976, the S.C. General Assembly required each county to follow state procurement procedures, unless that county had its own formal, centralized procurement procedure.

The Charleston County Procurement Code, adopted by County Council on Dec. 21, 1983, relegated all procurement authority to the Contracts and Procurement Director, centralizing all purchasing in the Procurement Department. This procurement ordinance applies to every expenditure of public funds regardless of their source.
 

Achievement Awards
 

Contact Information

Procurement Department
Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building
4045 Bridge View Drive, Suite B250
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 958-4750
(843) 958-4758 (Fax)

Central Parts Warehouse
4360 Azalea Drive
Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 202-7922
(843) 202-7929 (Fax)

Office Hours

Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

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