Purchasing

Provides efficient, responsive services that enhance the quality of life, meet common needs, and promote a safe and healthy community.

The Office of Purchasing reports to the Assistant County Administrator and is responsible for providing centralized procurement of materials, equipment, supplies, and services for client departments, vendors, and the taxpayers of Escambia County.

The goal of the Office of Purchasing is to perform the centralized procurement function for all Board of County Commissioners’ departments and divisions.

• The county's staff has been fully trained on the implementation of OpenGov and the system has been successfully implemented.
• Issued 90 solicitations within fiscal year 24-25
• Processed 1678 purchase orders within fiscal year 24-25

• Promoted Purchasing Manager to Purchasing Division Manager

• Promoted Purchasing Coordinator to Senior Purchasing Coordinator
• Hired a full-time Purchasing Specialist
• Hired a full-time Purchasing Coordinator
• Promoted a Purchasing Specialist to Purchasing Coordinator
• Began the process of reviewing Purchasing procedures and policies.
• In the process of creating a Grants Coordinator position for Purchasing
• The county conducted a series of vendor workshops aimed at educating businesses in the process of doing business with the county. One of these workshops was held at the Brownsville Community Center, where Commissioner Lumon May provided the opening welcome speech on the importance of our local vendors.
• Completed DOGE audit of over 1800 contracts which included Purchase Orders
• Increased registered Minority Owned businesses in OpenGov from 1781 in the first quarter of 2025 to 1832 in the 2^nd quarter of 2025.

• We are currently creating a Purchasing Grant Coordinator position to facilitate Grant Funded Procurements.  This position will be effective October 1, 2025.
• Purchasing is continuing to offer comprehensive training sessions to county staff on the solicitation process and OpenGov. Our training programs will equip County Staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively navigate the procurement process and leverage the power of OpenGov to streamline their operations.
• We are currently working to propose the implementation of new policies, procedures, and ordinances for purchasing. This will help optimize the purchasing process and enhance efficiency. I believe this initiative will be beneficial in the long run and will contribute to the growth of the county.
• Vendor outreach programs have been implemented to recruit local vendors on “How to Do Business” with the County but also provides them with the resources to be successful when submitting their proposals.  Educational pamphlets and an enhanced Vendor Resources section have been added to the Escambia County Purchasing website. 
• The Office of Purchasing has diligently worked to foster positive relationships with all County departments by assigning dedicated purchasing contacts for each department to process Purchase Orders, facilitating the Invitation to Quote process as well as the solicitation from the creation of the intake through the award of the agreement. 

For additional information please see our interactive reports here