Purchasing Policy

We conduct all purchasing activities in accordance with established Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) purchasing policies and procedures. View the BJWSA Purchasing Procedures (PDF).

Our goal is to:

  • Obtain the correct quantity and quality of materials, equipment, equipment components, general supplies, construction and services in the most efficient manner for the highest return on investment
  • Encourage competition from interested, qualified suppliers, and to provide opportunities for suppliers to offer products and services to BJWSA
  • Ensure that suppliers are treated fairly, with business being awarded to the most qualified supplier in the best interest of BJWSA
  • Maintain the highest ethical standards in all transactions

BJWSA's Terms and Conditions (PDF) are incorporated into and made a part of all Purchase Orders issued by Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority for goods or services provided for the benefit of BJWSA.

We encourage the use of locally-based companies in Beaufort and Jasper Counties, and have adopted a Local Preference Policy.

Local Preference Policy

A competitive procurement made by the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) may be made from responsive and responsible resident suppliers within the jurisdictions of Beaufort or Jasper County for procurement, if such bid does not exceed the lowest qualified bid from a nonlocal supplier by more than one % of the lowest nonlocal supplier. The local supplier has the discretion to match the bid submitted by the nonlocal supplier and receive the contract award.

A vendor or supplier shall be deemed to be a "local vendor" if such vendor is an individual, partnership, association or corporation that is authorized to transact business within the state, maintains an office in Beaufort or Jasper County, has a business license of Beaufort or Jasper County, or one of the municipalities within County jurisdictions, and maintains a representative inventory of commodities within Beaufort or Jasper County or one of the municipalities on which the bid is submitted and has paid all taxes duly assessed.

If the procurement is to be made pursuant to state or federal guidelines that prohibit or restrict a preference, there shall be no local supplier preference unless a more restricted variation is allowed under the guidelines.