Thank you for your interest in the Howard County Office of Purchasing.  Last year, the Office of Purchasing was responsible for the expenditure of over $145 million of taxpayer funds.  The Office of Purchasing operates within the Department of County Administration and in accordance with Article VIII of the Howard County Charter and Title 4, Subtitle 1 of the Howard County Code.  The office is responsible for procuring all equipment, supplies and services necessary to sustain the County’s operations; capital construction; procurement card program; fixed assets and surplus property; wage requirements, the purchase of recycled and environmentally preferable products and equipment, and the Equal Business Opportunity Program.   

 The Office of Purchasing maintains approximately 660 annual contracts for the good and services that allow departments to serve the citizens of Howard County.  The professional staff provides procurement advice and counsel to the departments of Howard County regarding methods for legally, effectively, efficiently and strategically procuring the highest quality of goods and services.   

For a current contract listing click on the link to current contracts 

For a  directory of our staff click on the link to contact us 

 Our Mission

P  rofessional staff obtains 

U  tmost value for taxpayers' dollars. We provide 

R  apid response while promoting 

C  ompetition 

H oward County maintains a "can do" 

A  ttitude and operates with 

S  uperior customer service and 

I   ntegrity to meet the 

N  eeds of the agencies delivering 

G  oods and services to the citizens