On Thursday March, 3, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners declared March as Purchasing Month to recognize the work of government purchasers, especially those at the county, who use the county’s purchasing power to save taxpayer dollars and promote diversity and sustainability.
In 2010, Purchasing teamed up with the Office of Sustainability to create the Sustainable Purchasing and Social Equity Policy, which integrates Multnomah County’s values into its purchasing system. The policy emphasizes local purchasing, reduction of environmental damage, best values for taxpayer dollars and supporting specific community groups and neighborhoods. In step with these values, the county is currently installing solar panels at three county facilities in order to reduce the buildings’ CO2 emissions and energy costs.
Multnomah County has also turned to socially and environmentally responsible companies for office supplies. The company that supplies the county’s toner cartridges is also a qualified rehabilitation facility that employs people with disabilities. The same company also reduces waste by recycling the shells of used cartridges to produce new ones.
Purchasing also promotes diversity by providing support to emerging small businesses as well as minority and women-owned businesses in Multnomah County through apprenticeship opportunities, technical support and training.
For more information, visit the purchasing website or peruse the latest bid and proposal opportunities for contractors.