The mission of the division of Purchasing is to assist the various operating departments within the Town to purchase those goods and services which enables them to carry out their various responsibilities. The purchases are made in accordance with State and Local laws and with the policies set forth by the Town Board.

Each year the Purchasing division conducts hundreds of sealed bids and requests for proposals and administers the creation of more than 7000 purchase contracts within the parameters of the Town Operating & Capital budgets. Expenditures are made for everything ranging from office and cleaning supplies, to computers, bulldozers and major highway reconstruction.

The division welcomes and encourages the business community to participate in all aspects of the purchasing process. In addition to visiting the purchasing staff, vendors representatives are often encouraged to visit the operating departments in order to maximize the end users awareness of goods and services being offered.

Under the office of the Director of Audit and Control, the division of Purchasing assists the Comptrollers office in the approval and payment of bills for goods and services purchased by the Town, in a timely and accurate manner.

Q. How can I get on a bidders list so that I may receive and submit timely bids for goods and services?

A. Send a written request, on company letterhead to the Director of Purchasing at 100 Main Street, Room 209, Huntington, NY 11743, asking to be included on a vendors list for a specific bid or bids.

Include as much information as possible about the goods and services being offered to the Town. Sending a brochure or line card is very helpful by allowing us to match your products with the specific needs of the Town.

Q. How do I know which bids are being planned and when are they due?

A. All sealed bids and requests for proposals are advertised in the official newspapers of the Town under the heading "Legal Notices". These official newspapers are the Northport Observer and the Long Islander. In addition, the "Notice To Bidders" also appear under the Public Notices menu of this web site

Q. Is an award always made to the lowest priced bidder?

A. The specifics of General Municipal Law require that an award be made to the lowest responsible bidder for a specified item or group of items included in a bid proposal. The determination of responsibility of any potential awardee includes not only price, but also conformance with all of the specifications in the bid proposal. Timeliness of delivery, warranty conditions, solvency of the vendor and adherence to local law and codes by the bidder are all considered in determining the lowest responsible bidder.  Awards may be viewed and downloaded in pdf format from the Purchasing Division's section of our Online Library.

Q. How can I learn what the results of previous bids were so I can compete effectively?

A. As this information is a matter of public record, simply mail or FAX (631-351-2833) a specific request for information to the Director of Purchasing. The Purchasing Division will endeavor to respond to your request promptly. We recognize that the most competitive bids come from the most informed bidders.

Q. How quickly does the Town pay its' bills?

A. The process for bill payment of the Town's obligations is, of necessity, a series of mandated checks and balances. Most regular invoices are paid within 30 days of receipt by the comptroller's office.

Vendors can help insure prompt processing of invoices by sending their invoice along with a properly completed claim voucher to the same address as that to which the goods or services were delivered.

Invoices that are sent anywhere else will be forwarded to the ordering department, but time will be wasted in the extra handling of the documents.

Q. Can I attend a bid opening for which my company submitted a bid proposal?

A. All bids are publicly opened and the results are read aloud at the scheduled time and place listed in the Notice to Bidders. Anyone can attend any scheduled bid opening, at any time. Most bid openings are conducted in the Purchasing Division office, Room 209, Town Hall, 100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743.