• The Purchasing Department is committed to supporting the goals and values of the District by:
• Providing the highest level of professional service to our customers.
• Obtaining goods and services in the most cost-effective and fiscally responsible manner possible.
• Keeping the District compliant with all purchasing laws, guidelines and established policies.
• Encouraging competition among vendors through competitive bidding and fair negotiation.
• Maintaining a professional relationship with all vendors.
• Being ethical in all procurement functions.
• Continually educating our customers on procurement practices and laws.
• Being receptive to new ideas and concepts.
• Providing continuous training to our customers.
• Listening to our customers and their customers.
  
  

Goals

The goal of the Purchasing Department is to assist the District’s overall educational process at all times, understand all conditions, and to ensure a constant supply of goods and services necessary to support all school sites and departments by providing the following practices:

• Dedication to excellence and high ethical standards.
• Provide process and training which promotes compliance with applicable policies, procedures and regulations.
• Provide efficient, value-added services that maximize district resources.
• Promote effective communication integration with all departments to increase efficiency and productivity.
• Strengthen research capability by reaching out to other school districts and cities.
• Implement sustainable strategies that fall under Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District policies.
  
  

Responsibilities

• Conduct purchasing transactions in accordance with established Board of Education policies and consistent with all local, state, and federal laws.
• Conduct competitive bidding by means of advertised bids, written quotations, and oral price quotations in compliance with Board Policy, Administrative Regulations and/or State and Federal laws.
• Submit listings of all purchase orders written for ratification and/or approval by the Board of Education.
• Conduct, supervise, and coordinate all purchase transactions for the schools and operating departments of the District from those sources able to offer the best prices consistent with quality, delivery, and service.
• Maintain sound business management principles and efficient office procedures, reports, records, and systems for the proper conduct of the department.
• Act as a center of information on sources for services, equipment, and supplies used by the District.
• Establish a purchasing calendar to consolidate the ordering of seasonal items and seek price benefits through proper timing and quantity of purchasing.
• Ensure that all orders are placed on the basis of quality, price, and delivery with no favoritism extended to any vendor.
• Maintains a Fixed Asset Inventory and disposition of obsolete and surplus equipment.
• Oversees the District Print Shop which provides outstanding reproduction services.
• Directs the operations of the District Mail Room, which provides pick-up, sorting, and delivery of all US Postal Service mail and Inter-district mail and materials to the district offices and school sites.
  
  

Mission Statement

The mission of Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Purchasing Department is to provide the highest quality of products and services at the best value, in a timely and efficient manner, to support and guide all schools and departments and to create a supportive environment for student achievement.