The Purchasing Agent shall have the following specific authorities and responsibilities: To sign contracts and agreements for all supplies, services, and construction for which payment, in whole or in part, is to be made out of County funds; To establish and maintain, after consultation with the appropriate County officials, a program for the development and use of procurement specifications and standards for all supplies, materials, and equipment and the inspection and testing of all supplies, services, and construction to insure compliance with such specifications and standards; To establish and maintain a system of requisitions and receipts concerning the furnishing of supplies, services, and construction to County agencies; To participate in joint or cooperative procurement with other public jurisdictions; To maintain records and reports of all procurement activities of the County; To delegate limited procurement authority to County employees, to include Office of Procurement staff and external agency personnel, pursuant to procedures issued by the Purchasing Agent as may be deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the County's purchasing program; To appoint procurement officers who shall be employees selected in accordance with Subtitle 16 of this Code; To appoint a contract review committee as defined by the regulations; and The review of and decision on contract claims arising under Section 10A-107. The review of and decision on Emergency Procurements.