The Purchasing Department, as provided for in the City Charter, is responsible for all aspects of the City's centralized procurement process. Its objective is to acquire needed goods and services as efficiently and as inexpensively as possible, while assuring fair and equal opportunity to all qualified vendors. The Purchasing Department's primary function is to assist other City Departments in their procurement efforts, securing materials and services which meet necessary standards. Concurrently, the Purchasing Department monitors all procurement to ascertain compliance with applicable laws.

Purchasing is organized into four sections:

• The Goods and Services Division, which buys most of the items and services used by the City. This division also sells used materials and equipment.
• The Purchasing Systems Administration Division, which performs departmental computer systems support, supports the ADPICS system, DemandStar system, as well as generates bid and resolution documentation.
• The Inventory and Stores Division, which stocks City inventory.
• The Contractual Services Division, which ensures contract compliance as well as various City programs compliance.