Purchasing

The Purchasing department's primary function is to consolidate all county purchases to obtain goods and services equitably through fair open competition at the least cost to the taxpayer while serving the interest of the county.

State and County law govern all purchasing procedures including competitive bidding, bid advertising, contract award, administration and requests for quotation.

Steuben County will not be responsible for purchases made in excess of $500 for the Public Works department and $250 for the remainder of county departments without proper authorization. Prior authorization to ship goods or perform services should be obtained from the Purchasing department in the form of a county purchase order.

Doing Business with Steuben County

Office hours are 8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Vendors may call on the Purchasing department during those hours. It is recommended that an appointment be scheduled to make sure the appropriate Purchasing staff are available.

The Purchasing department maintains a bid list for specific commodities and services. For prospective vendors who wish to participate in Steuben County's procurement process the following information should be forwarded in writing to the Purchasing department by mail: 

  • Company name, address, telephone and fax number
  • Contact person(s)
  • A brief introduction about the prospective vendor with a description of the type of commodities or services they would like to make available to the county.

Steuben County encourages all interested parties to participate in the purchasing process. Your interest in doing business with Steuben County is appreciated.

Disposition of Surplus & Obsolete Materials & Equipment

The disposition of Steuben County's surplus and obsolete materials and equipment is handled by sealed bid or county auction. The Steuben County surplus equipment auction is an annual event held in September every year. Individuals and companies may contact the Purchasing department for more information regarding the disposition of the county's surplus.

Annual Surplus Equipment Auction

The annual surplus equipment auction is held each Fall. A list of materials and equipment is available in early September by contacting the Purchasing department.