Purchasing
Mission Statement
The LSC Purchasing Department's mission is to support the college by managing the procurement process to continuously serve the needs of our students, educators, and administrators. Our goal is to secure the right products and services at the best value, serve our employees and vendors as an approachable resource, while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, Board policies, and administrative requirements. The Purchasing Department strives to provide systems and procedures that will make the procurement process more efficient, cost effective and user friendly. We are committed to being excellent financial stewards for our tax base while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and transparency while serving the North Harris, CyFair, Kingwood, University Park, Montgomery, Tomball, University Park, Houston North, and LSC-Online campuses and education centers as well as the System Administrative Offices.
Lone Star College complies with the Texas Education Code 44.031 by establishing open and fair purchasing and bidding practices that provide the best value to the College for goods and services valued at $50,000 or more in the aggregate for each 12-month period. Goods and services purchases valued at $50,000 or more in the aggregate for each 12-month period shall be made by the following methods that provides the best value to the College:
- Competitive bidding for services other than construction services;
- Competitive sealed proposals for services other than construction services;
- A request for proposals, for services other than construction services;
- An interlocal contract;
- A method provided by Chapter 2269, Government Code, for construction services;
- The reverse auction procedure as defined by Section 2155.062(d), Local Government Code; or
- The formation of a political subdivision corporation under Section 304.001, Local Government Code.
All vendors must be selected under one of the procurement methods stipulated in section 44.031 of the Texas Education Code approved by the Lone Star College Board of Trustees before Lone Star College can begin using their goods and/or services. LSC requires all vendors to have an approved procurement instrument (i.e., purchase order, term contract, master service agreement, etc.) in place prior to providing goods or services. Entering into contracts verbally, or without appropriate authorization is prohibited and a violation of state law. Any vendor who delivers goods or services to LSC without a proper contract is doing so entirely at their own risk. LSC does not pay for goods or services that were provided without the benefit of a properly executed procurement contract. Regardless of contract type and method of submission, all contracts must be reviewed and approved by the LSC Office of the General Counsel prior to services being rendered.
For general purchasing questions, email lsc-purchasing@lonestar.edu.
The College is a political subdivision of the State of Texas. It operates under specific legal requirements for the acquisition of goods and services. Lone Star College is exempt from most state and local taxes. Tax-exempt forms will be supplied upon request by the Procurement Department.
Although oversight of the purchasing process is centralized, most purchasing decisions are site-based. The focus of the Procurement Department is on educating our staff so that most purchases are made directly by the campus/department and to encourage the control of expenditures at these levels. By using system-wide contracts, cooperative programs, and constant communication, our staff receives the support they need to make sound purchasing decisions.
All vendors must be selected under one of the procurement methods stipulated in section 44.031 of the Texas Education Code approved by the LSCS Board of Trustees before LSCS can begin using their goods and/or services. Lone Star College System requires all vendors to have an approved procurement instrument (i.e., purchase order, term contract, master service agreement, etc.) in place prior to providing goods or services. Entering into contracts verbally, or without appropriate authorization is prohibited and a violation of state law. Any vendor who delivers goods or services to Lone Star College without a proper contract is doing so entirely at their own risk. Lone Star College does not pay for goods or services that were provided without the benefit of a properly executed procurement contract. Regardless of contract type and method of submission, all contracts must be reviewed and approved by Lone Star College General Counsel prior to services being rendered.
Bidding Process
All contracts exceeding $50,000 in value are submitted to the competitive bid process per Texas Education Code 44.031. Vendors who are interested in responding to requests for proposals are asked to register as a vendor through the eBidding platform on the website. Registered vendors will be notified when a posting is made relating to the commodity they select. Registration does not constitute approval status as a vendor; this only allows vendors to bid/quote on current bid opportunities and be considered for award.
For purchases of goods and services up to $50,000, the Procurement Department relies on quotations from awarded vendors, which occurs either through an LSC-issued bid or purchasing cooperative awarded contract.
Awards are made to the bidder providing the best value to LSC. In determining to whom to award a contract, the college shall consider the following:
- The purchase price
- The reputation of the vendor and of the vendor's goods or services
- The extent to which the goods or services meet the college’s needs
- The quality of the vendor's goods and/or services
- The vendor's past relationship with the college
- The impact on the ability of the college to comply with laws and rules relating to historically underutilized businesses
- The total long-term cost to the college to acquire the vendor's goods or services
- For a contract for goods and services, other than goods and services related to telecommunications and information services, building construction and maintenance, or instructional materials, whether the vendor or the vendor's ultimate parent company or majority owner:
(A) has its principal place of business in this state; or
(B) employs at least 500 persons in this state; and - Any other relevant factor specifically listed in the request for bids or proposals.
Award information will be available on the college’s e-bidding site upon award of a contract.
The Lone Star College System's web-based e-bid system will electronically notify registered vendors of applicable bid opportunities. It also allows registered vendors to electronically view and submit bids. Vendors pay no fees for registering or utilizing this e-bid system.
Click on the Login link below to register, view, and respond to current LSCS bids.
Note: Registration in this system does not constitute a vendor becoming an awarded vendor. A vendor must be awarded on an LSC bid or quote or a cooperative contract for which LSC is a member to be considered an awarded vendor.
For questions, please contact lsc-purchasing@lonestar.edu.
The purchasing department issues purchase orders for the acquisition of equipment, services, and supplies for the college system. Questions concerning the purchasing policies and procedures—including the bidding process, supplier selection, supplier files, and legal requirements related to a purchase—should be addressed to this department.
Effective January 1, 2006, Chapter 176 of the Texas Local Government Code requires that the Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (“CIQ”) be completed and filed with the College by any vendor that enters or seeks to enter into a contract with the College. It is respectfully requested that you acquaint yourself with the appropriate code provisions. All vendor bid responses must include a signed CIQ, or the vendor must have an updated CIQ on file with the College.
If you have any questions regarding the questionnaire, please refer to the attached Texas Attorney General Opinion or contact the Texas Ethics Commission at 201 East 14th Street, 10th Floor, P.O. Box 12070, Austin, TX 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800. This commission promulgated the questionnaire and instructions. The College is now implementing this statutory requirement.
Local Government Code 176.003 (PDF)
Fiscal Year 2021 - 2022
Fiscal Year 2022 - 2023
Fiscal Year 2023 - 2024
Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025
Current bid opportunities can be viewed on the college’s e-bid website. In addition, bid award information is posted there to ensure transparency to the public. Please click here to visit the e-bid website.
Related
Documents
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Supplier eBid Registration Instructions – Bidding system |
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Supplier Registration Instructions – iStar System |
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Purchasing Requirements At a Glance |
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Purchase Order Terms & Conditions |
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iStar Vendor Portal |
Contact Information
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