Mississippi Code of 1972

Title 31. Public Business, Bonds and Obligations

Chapter 7. Public Purchases In General

 

MISS. CODE ANN. § 31-7-1. Definitions

The following terms are defined for the purposes of this chapter to have the following meanings:

(a) “Agency” Shall mean any state board, commission, committee, council, university, department or unit thereof created by the Constitution or statutes if such board, commission, committee, council, university, department, unit or the head thereof is authorized to appoint subordinate staff by the Constitution or statute, except a legislative or judicial board, commission, committee, council, department or unit thereof; except the Mississippi State Port Authority.

(b) “Governing authority” shall mean boards of supervisors, governing boards of all school districts, all boards of directors of public water supply districts, boards of directors of master public water supply districts, municipal public utility commissions, governing authorities of all municipalities, port authorities, Mississippi State Port Authority, commissioners and boards of trustees of any public hospitals, boards of trustees of public library systems, district attorneys, school attendance officers and any political subdivision of the state supported wholly or in part by public funds of the state or political subdivisions thereof, including commissions, boards and agencies created or operated under the authority of any county or municipality of this state. The term “governing authority” shall not include economic development authorities supported in part by private funds, or commissions appointed to hold title to and oversee the development and management of lands and buildings which are donated by private individuals to the public for the use and benefit of the community and which are supported in part by private funds. The term “governing authority” also shall not include the governing board of a charter school.

(c) “Purchasing agent” shall mean any administrator, superintendent, purchase clerk or other chief officer so designated having general or special authority to negotiate for and make private contract for or purchase for any governing authority or agency.

(e) The word “commodities” shall mean and include the various commodities, goods, merchandise, furniture, equipment, automotive equipment of every kind, and other personal property purchased by the agencies of the state and governing authorities, but not commodities purchased for resale or raw materials converted into products for resale.

(i) “Certified purchasing office” shall mean any purchasing office in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the purchasing agents hold a certification from the University Public Purchasing Certification Council or other nationally recognized purchasing certification and in which, in the case of a state agency purchasing office, in addition to the national certification, one hundred percent (100%) of the purchasing officials hold a certification from the State of Mississippi’s Basic or Advanced Purchasing Certification Program.

MISS. CODE ANN. § 31-7-13. Bid Requirements and exceptions; public auctions

(m) Exceptions from bidding requirements. Excepted from bid requirements are:

(xxix) Purchases made pursuant to qualified cooperative purchasing agreements.

1.              Purchases made by certified purchasing offices of state agencies or governing authorities under cooperative purchasing agreements previously approved by the Office of the Purchasing and Travel and established by or for any municipality, county, parish, or state government or the federal government, provided that the notification to potential contractors includes a clause that sets forth the availability of the cooperative purchasing agreement to other governmental entities. Such purchases shall only be made if the use of the cooperative purchasing agreements is determined to be in the best interest of the governmental entity.