Jackson County does not have a centralized purchasing department.  Purchases are made by the individual departments in compliance with applicable rules and regulations. 

All purchases must conform to the requirements of the Local Contract Review Board Rules under authority granted by Oregon Revised Statutes 279A.065 and Jackson County Ordinance No. 208.17.  The Local Contract Review Board (LCRB) Rules establish a procedure to assure that each contract to which the county is a party has met state and county competitive bidding and other purchasing requirements.  You can download Jackson County’s Local Contract Review Board Rules. 

The Board of Commissioners is the only agent that can legally commit the county to a contract or agreement.  In specific circumstances, as detailed in the LCRB rules, authority may be delegated to the County Administrator (Public Contracting Officer) or his or her designee.  A contract must be used to purchase all types of personal service.  Commitment for the purchase of goods or non-personal services can be by contract or a county purchase order.  Purchases of less than $500 can be made without a purchase order, as can purchases up to approved limits made by employees using county purchasing cards.   All documents should be written to the name “Jackson County” as the contracting agency and not a department, division, or officer of the County. 

Purchase Order (PO) – A preprinted County order document given to the vendor to formalize the standard County terms & conditions under which the order is placed.  The signed & numbered PO includes:  a complete description and quantity of items or services ordered, delivery address, shipping requirements, invoice address, and payment terms of the sale.  Delivery of the items or services constitutes acceptance of the Purchase Order and the standard Jackson County terms and conditions.

Payment - Payments are processed and mailed to vendors weekly.  Invoices are entered and approved by the departments.  Once the finance department has received, reviewed and approved the vouchers, they are included in the next payment cycle.    To determine whether an invoice has been paid or approved for payment, call the contact at the department who made the purchase.  The contact numbers at major county departments are:  Sheriff 774-6800; Airport 776-7222; Expo 774-8273; Roads 774-6212; and Health 774-7802.  If you are unable to locate the department number you need, you may call the finance department at 774-6525.

Local Vendor Preference - All qualifying vendors, local and otherwise, compete on an equal basis for county business.

Bidding and Quote Requirements -   Public Contracts are based upon Competitive Bidding, except when not required by the Jackson County Local Contract Review Board Rules. 

Prequalification Application – Persons desiring to bid on a Public Improvement Project must be prequalified according to ORS 279C.430.  The Prequalification Application must be submitted ten (10) days prior to the opening of bids on any contract for which the person desires to be considered.  Persons already prequalified with the Department of Transportation or Oregon Department of Administrative Services will be presumed qualified and may submit proof of prequalification in lieu of the Prequalification Application per ORS 279C.435.  A fee is charged for Prequalification Application forms submitted directly to Jackson County.  Prequalification Application forms may be obtained at Jackson County Roads, 200 Antelope Road, White City, OR or by calling (541) 774-8184.

Advertising for Formal Solicitations - Jackson County advertises formal solicitation notices in the Medford Mail Tribune and on the county’s internet web site.  You can register on the website to be alerted by email when Requests For Proposals are posted.