# Article VI. Purchasing

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Article VI. Purchasing

### Section 601. County Purchasing Agent

Prince George's County, Md., Charter § 601 (2026)

There shall be a County Purchasing Agent, who shall be responsible for the administration of the purchasing policies established by this Charter or by law.

### Section 602. Duties of the County Purchasing Agent

Prince George's County, Md., Charter § 602 (2026)

The duties of the County Purchasing Agent shall include responsibility for: (1) the making of all purchases and the contracting for all public work and services for which payment is to be made out of County funds; (2) the establishment, after consultation with the appropriate County officials, of specifications and standards for all supplies, materials and equipment, and the inspection of all deliveries to insure compliance with such specifications and standards; (3) the establishment and maintenance of a system of requisitions and receipts covering the furnishing of supplies, materials, and equipment to the various using agencies; (4) the preparation for legislative action thereon by the Council of reasonable rules and regulations governing emergency purchases, contracts, and services or material and equipment of an unusual or noncompetitive nature which shall not be subject to competitive bidding; (5) the sale or other disposition of surplus, old, and waste supplies, materials, and equipment or the transfer of same between using agencies; and (6) the conduct of programs involving joint or cooperative purchasing with other public jurisdictions.

### Section 603. Competitive Bidding

Prince George's County, Md., Charter § 603 (2026)

Any single purchase or contract under the jurisdiction of the County Purchasing Agent and involving an expenditure in excess of such amount(s) as may be established by legislative act of the County Council, except emergency purchases and those involving services or material and equipment of a noncompetitive nature as may be defined and governed by the rules and regulations mentioned in Section 602 of this Charter, shall be made from or let by sealed bids or proposals publicly opened after public notice for such period and in such manner as the County Purchasing Agent or their authorized deputy shall determine. Such public notice for bids or proposals shall be advertised on a publicly available website designated by the County Purchasing Agent and in any other manner determined by the County Code. Such purchases and contracts shall be made from or awarded to the responsive and responsible bid that is most favorable to the County with respect to "best value", including technical requirements, diversity of suppliers, and costs, as defined in the Code. A security or bond for the performance of work as determined by the County's Purchasing Agent in accordance with the County Code may be required for purchases and contracts. No such purchase or contract shall be made or awarded within a period of one week from the date of the public opening of bids. In all cases, the County shall reserve the right to reject any and all bids. No contract or purchase shall be subdivided to avoid the requirements of this section. Anything to the contrary of this Section 603 notwithstanding, the Council may authorize the County Purchasing Agent to negotiate extensions of existing contracts for garbage and refuse collection, without competitive bidding, upon such terms and for such duration as the Council may by law prescribe; provided, however, that any such law shall require the County Purchasing Agent to poll the residents of the service area covered by a collection contract, and shall provide that the County Purchasing Agent not conclude any agreement for an extension unless a certain number of the residents of the service area, as prescribed by the Council, indicate their concurrence in the extension.

### Section 604. Nondiscrimination in Employment

Prince George's County, Md., Charter § 604 (2026)

No contractor who is the recipient of County funds shall discriminate in employment because of religion, race, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status or disability. The Council shall enact furthering legislation to implement the provisions of this section.

### Section 605. Application to Agencies Operating under State Law

Prince George's County, Md., Charter § 605 (2026)

To the extent permitted by law, the provisions of this Article shall apply to agencies created by or operating under State law and which receive or disburse County funds. In the interests of promoting uniformity and of effecting maximum savings for all purchases out of County funds, the purchasing facilities of the County government shall always be available to such agencies, and their use shall be encouraged.

### Section 606. Cooperative Purchasing

Prince George's County, Md., Charter § 606 (2026)

As appropriate, the County Purchasing Agent may undertake programs involving joint or cooperative purchases with other public jurisdictions.

### Section 607. Local and Minority Business

Prince George's County, Md., Charter § 607 (2026)

The County is committed to the encouragement and support of local and minority businesses consistent with requirements of Federal, State, and County law.