Purchasing
The Purchasing Section oversees the City’s procurement function which includes processes conducted for effective and efficient purchase of needed tangible goods, services, and construction. Within this capacity, the Purchasing Section is also an indirect component of the City’s internal control measures applicable to the expenditure of City funds.
Staff within this section consists of a manager, a senior buyer, four buyers, and two office assistants who are delegated responsibility and authority for ensuring all of City purchase processes comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Purchasing Section staff, along with other City staff who are delegated limited purchase authority, administer and adhere to the Las Cruces Municipal Code Chapter 24 which is the City’s Procurement Code established pursuant to the City’s Home Rule Charter. The City Procurement Code is subject and subordinate to the Code of Federal Regulations whenever federal funds are involved in City procurements. Also, the City Procurement Code is subject to and subordinate to various statutes promulgated by the State of New Mexico which include but are not limited to the State Use Act, Public Works Act, Subcontractor Fair Practices Act, Prohibited Bidding Code (NMSA), Workforce Solution registration and Construction Industry Division licensing regulations, etc. Clarification and any additional information regarding the applicability of procurement laws and regulation may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Section staff.
Purchase transactions are conducted via the City’s petty cash, purchase order, or procurement card processes which are the only authorized processes from which the City will transact purchases. These processes are conditioned upon established competitive and non-competitive procedures. Such purchasing procedures are based upon an intent to equitably treat all City procurement participants, to maximize the purchasing value of public funds and to provide safeguards for maintaining a procurement system of quality and integrity.