Saint Louis County - Purchasing Department

The Purchasing Department is responsible for overseeing purchasing activities of the County in accordance with Minnesota State Statutes and County Regulations, and to explain and amend the purchasing rules and regulations, subject to approval of the County Board.

The Purchasing Department is divided into three divisions: Purchasing; Microfilm; and Reproduction and Duplicating.

Responsibilities of the Purchasing Division include the purchasing or contracting for all supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services required by any County department, to operate the duplicating, mail, and central storeroom, to transfer equipment to or between County departments, and/or handle sales of surplus equipment, supplies and materials objective of the Purchasing Department is to provide efficient procurement services to County departments in a timely manner and obtain needed goods and services for County operations at the lowest possible price, in accordance with State Statutes and County Regulations.

The Microfilm Division maintains an in-house microfilm lab where various departments bring their records to be microfilmed Some departments have their records filmed on a daily basis such as the Auditor's daily checks and Recorder's daily documents. Processing of films for the Social Service Department is done daily as well. Filming, processing, checking, and duplicating that meet the specifications of the Minnesota Historical Society are provided. Over 20,000 original rolls of microfilm are stored at Nopeming Nursing Home. There are also that many reference rolls of films used in County departments in Duluth and the Iron Range cities of Hibbing and Virginia.

Corrections and updating of records already on film is provided, and readers and a reader/printer are available for use by the departments. An annual report is submitted to the Auditor's Office, and records are maintained on all projects filmed.

The Reproduction & Duplicating Unit furnishes printed material to St. Louis County, the City of Duluth, and the Duluth Water & Gas Department as well as any other government unit requesting such services. As an in-house print shop, the unit provides typesetting, layout design, and complete printing needs for using departments. A central duplicating center is available for high volume, low cost photocopies. Low cost parer is also furnished to all users.