CHAPTER 71

An Act to amend and reenact § 2-262, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to purchases by political subdivisions and local

officers.
[H 252]
Approved February 21, 1964

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2-262, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 2-262. The boards of supervisors, or other governing bodies, of
political subdivisions, the several counties and the councils of the several
cities and towns, and the officers of counties, cities, towns and political
subdivisions who are empowered to purchase material, equipment and sup-
plies of any and all kinds for local public use, may, in their discretion, seek
the aid and cooperation of the Director of the Department of Purchases
and Supply in purchasing such material, equipment and supplies, to the
end that, by central purchasing, cheaper prices may be obtained. When
any such governing body of a county or political subdivision, council of a
city or town, or duly authorized officer or officers of a county, city, town
or political subdivision request the Director to obtain bids for any material,
equipment and supplies, and such bids accordingly have been obtained by
the Department of Purchases and Supply, the Department may award the
contract to the lowest responsible bidder, and such county, city, town or
political subdivision shall be bound by such contract; the Department shall
set forth in the purchase order that such material, equipment and supplies
be delivered to, and that the bill therefor be made out to and forwarded to
such county, city, town or political subdivision: any such bill shali be a
valid and enforceable claim against the county, city, town or political sub-
division responsible, requesting the Department to seek such bids.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, any such political subdivision
shall have the right to reject all bids without any liability unless said
political subdivision purchases the same or similar item or items upon
which such bids were taken within a period of three months thereafter
from someone other than the bidder to whom the order was awarded at
the bid price. Whenever all bids have been rejected by the political sub-
division, it may again call for bids on the same or similar items through
the Department of Purchases and Supply, with the approval of the Direc-
tor of Purchases and Supply.

The Director shall encourage the seeking of such aid and cooperation
by the tender of his services by letter, and otherwise, and specially by the
dissemination of facts by letter, or otherwise, concerning the savings of
public funds which may be effected by central purchasing of material,
equipment and supplies.

Upon request of the governing body of any county, city, town or
other political subdivision, or any duly authorized officer thereof, the
Director may make available to any such county, city, town or other
political subdivision the facilities of the central warehouse maintained by
the Department; provided, however, that the furnishing of any such serv-
wces or supplies shall not limit or impair any services or supplies normally
rendered any department, division, institution or agency of the State.