2007 Minnesota Statutes

383A.32 PURCHASING.
    Subdivision 1. Joint city-county purchasing. (a) Joint program. Notwithstanding a charter
provision, city ordinance, or prior law to the contrary pertaining to buying by the city of Saint
Paul or the county of Ramsey, and to promote competitive bidding, effect economies in volume
buying, and provide better service, the city of Saint Paul and the county of Ramsey shall establish
a joint buying program.
(b) Saint Paul purchasing department to be used. The county of Ramsey shall buy,
or contract for, the supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services required by each
department or agency of the county government through the facilities of the city of Saint Paul
purchasing department and, for this service, shall pay to the city the cost incurred in providing the
service. The cost is determined through an analysis and evaluation of all purchases processed
through December 31, 1959, and thereafter through each succeeding year. The manner and
method of computing this cost is the joint responsibility of the county and the city.
(c) Saint Paul city charter provisions reserved. All of the charter provisions of the city
of Saint Paul pertaining to the procedures, rules, and regulations in the field of buying goods,
wares, and merchandise are in their entirety reserved in full.
(d) Standardization committee. A permanent Committee on Standardization of Purchases
for the city of Saint Paul and the county of Ramsey is established, to be composed, on an equal
basis, of representatives of the city of Saint Paul, the county of Ramsey, and other governmental
units permitted to buy through the city purchasing department. The city council shall choose the
members of the committee on standardization for the city, and the board of county commissioners,
for the county. The committee shall agree on single specifications for each item commonly used
in each of the governmental units to combine their purchasing power.
(e) Central stock room. As soon as practical after the establishment of the central
purchasing program, the city of Saint Paul and the county of Ramsey shall establish a central
office supply stock room. The permanent committee on standardization of purchases shall provide
for inventory control procedures and the method and manner of distribution of supplies and
materials from the central stock room. Each of the governmental units participating in the central
buying program shall contribute the amount that is jointly agreed upon into a revolving fund
established for the operation of the central stock room, and shall pay, from time to time, into the
revolving fund the money required to cover overhead, in addition to the cost of materials and
supplies obtained therefrom. The city of Saint Paul and its purchasing department shall administer
and account for the revolving fund.
(f) Warehouse. The city of Saint Paul and the county of Ramsey shall provide adequate
warehouse and storage space for each item that is practical to store and the buying of which,
in quantities greater than current needs, will secure a distinct financial advantage to these
governmental subdivisions.
(g) County purchasing. If the county elects to have its own purchasing officer as provided
in the charter, this subdivision shall not apply to the county.
    Subd. 2. Patented article. (a) Ramsey County may buy articles or supplies that are sold at a
uniform price, by reason of a patent, copyright, or exclusive franchise, without advertisement and
competitive bids, where no advantage can be secured by advertisement and competitive bidding.
(b) Before making such a purchase, the county board shall adopt a finding to the effect that
the particular purchase is made pursuant to this subdivision.
    Subd. 3. Waiver of performance bonds. Notwithstanding the charter of the city of Saint
Paul or prior statutory enactments relating to buying by the city of Saint Paul and the county
of Ramsey to the contrary, the council of the city of Saint Paul, the Ramsey County Board of
Commissioners, and the governing body of any municipal subdivision governed by this section
may waive the requirements for a performance bond on each purchase of materials and supplies.
For bids requiring labor and material or labor alone, and bid in accordance with section 471.345,
subdivision 4 or 5, performance bonds may be waived. For bids requiring labor and material or
labor alone, and bid in accordance with section 471.345, subdivision 3, performance bonds or
equivalent financial security shall be required.
History: 1974 c 435 s 3.05; 1978 c 743 s 4; 1990 c 470 s 1; 1991 c 51 s 4