The Alameda County General Services Agency Purchasing Department is charged with the responsibility of obtaining required materials, supplies, equipment and services for all County agencies and departments. The purchasing activity has been centralized since 1911 under the direction of the Purchasing Agent. Its duties are governed by the laws of the State of California, the County Charter and its Ordinances.

The Purchasing Department is also tasked with the sale of surplus County personal property, managing central services such as printing services, messenger and delivery services and providing a County store service through just in time delivery contracts with local vendors.

The General Services Agency-Purchasing Department is available to assist County departments in a variety of ways from routine purchase orders to preparing contracts to conducting complex bid solicitations. Purchasing services are provided by a staff of purchasing professionals assigned to two teams; the Contracts Team develops competitive bids based on assigned contracts; the Procurement Team includes specialists within the field of assigned categories.

The benefits of centralized purchasing include lower commodity and acquisition costs through standardization and volume pricing; product selection through value analysis; and specialized knowledge of market conditions.

It is department policy to maintain continuity of service and supply support to the various County agencies and departments, at the lowest cost consistent with quality required, through use of active competition, good governmental business practices and efficient administration.

Property and Salvage, Motor Vehicles and Printing Services operations and procedures for each of these activities are described separately under their GSA Department sites.