A. 
Duties of purchasing agent. The purchasing agent of the county, subject to the public general and local laws, shall have the following functions:
1. 
The making of all purchases and contracting for supplies, materials and equipment for any county department or agency to be paid for out of county funds.
2. 
The sale of surplus, old and waste supplies, materials and equipment of the county.
3. 
The establishment after consultation with appropriate officials, of suitable specifications and standards for all supplies, materials and equipment to be purchased and the inspection of deliveries to determine compliance with such specifications and standards.
4. 
The receiving, custody and distribution of all supplies, materials and equipment to the proper department or agency of the government.
5. 
The establishment and maintenance of a system of requisitions and receipts covering the furnishing of supplies, materials and equipment to departments and agencies of the county.
6. 
The establishment, maintenance and modification of rules, regulations and standards for the pre-qualification of bidders in contracting for public work on the purchase of supplies, materials and services if the County Executive deems such pre-qualification necessary, subject to the approval of the County Council.
B. 
School system. The provisions of subsection (a)[1] above shall apply to the county school system except in the purchase and sale of technical equipment and supplies peculiar to the needs of the County Board of Education only.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original. Probably should be Subsection A.
A. 
General. Any single purchase or contract involving an expenditure of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or such amount as may be set by legislative act of the county enacted by affirmative vote of five (5) members of the County Council, shall be made from or let by sealed bids or proposals, after public notice for such period and in such manner as the County Executive shall determine. Contracts for the purchase shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder who has complied with the specifications and standards as set forth in the request for bids, and the successful bidder shall give security or bond for the performance of his contract, if so required by the County Executive. No contract nor purchase hereunder shall be broken down into parts so as to circumvent or evade the dollar limitation hereinbefore set forth.
B. 
Exceptions. Upon request by the County Executive, stating fully the reasons why any single purchase or contract requiring sealed bids or proposals after due notice is impractical, considering the costs of operation, maintenance, downtime and service, if any, submitted to the County Council, then upon the vote of five (5) members, said council may direct the County Executive to make said purchase or contract without compliance with the terms and conditions of this section. Nothing in this section shall be applicable to the engaging of an independent auditor or the awarding of contracts for professional services.