[Derived from Ch. 7, Art. III, of the 1971 Code]
A. 
All purchases of any supplies, materials or equipment or contractual services, other than professional services, for any department shall be made by the Department of Finance, pursuant to a written requisition from the head of the department whose appropriation will be charged, and the certification of the comptroller that a sufficient unencumbered balance of appropriation is available to pay therefor. All such purchase contracts shall conform with applicable requirements of state statutes for competitive bidding. Wherever economies can be effected, the Manager may purchase materials, supplies or equipment pursuant to a contract entered into on behalf of the state or of one or more municipalities by the State Division of Purchase and Property, as authorized by law.
B. 
The director of each department shall designate by writing filed with the Manager the names of employees in the department authorized to receive supplies, materials and equipment. The persons so designated shall accept deliveries, and sign for them, only where the goods are in exact conformity with the order. Should there be any doubt as to quantity or quality, the receiving employee shall immediately notify the department head for appropriate action. If any supplies, materials or equipment are rejected, the department head shall immediately notify the Manager.
C. 
Except as the Manager may authorize in case of emergency, no purchase shall be made and no bill, claim or voucher shall be approved unless the procedures prescribed by or pursuant to this section have been followed.
The Manager shall establish a procedure for the purchase of any item required for the immediate protection of the public health, safety, morals or welfare, which will permit such emergency purchases to be made for specific purposes in a manner other than that prescribed by this section.
Where purchases in excess of $50 are made without competitive bidding, the Purchasing Officer shall obtain, wherever possible, at least three informal price quotations for the items to be purchased, and shall record and maintain such quotations in his office as public record. Wherever circumstances permit, the purchase shall be made from the lowest of such quotations received from a responsible bidder.
The Manager shall establish or approve uniform standards for requisitions and purchases. The Department of Finance shall control the delivery of all supplies, materials and equipment and other items purchased, and shall make or cause to be made proper test checks and inspections thereof. The department shall ascertain whether the supplies, materials, equipment and other items purchased comply with the specifications, and shall cause laboratory or other tests to be made whenever in the opinion of the department head it is necessary to determine whether the materials, supplies or equipment furnished are of the quality and standard required.