Purchasing Guidelines and Purchasing Manual

The following guidelines are established based on State of Texas statutes, and San Benito CISD Board Policies CH (Legal) and CH (Local), and these requirements are to assist District personnel in making a purchase using District managed funds. Please note, if federal funds are to be utilized, the end user must follow the Federal Grants Policies and Procedures Manual.

San Benito CISD Purchasing Manual

Integrated EDGAR, District, and State Purchasing Process:

Interactive Purchasing Flowchart (Created by TASBO)

Legal Points to Remember

It is important to remember that individual schools and departments are not separate legal entities. When determining what sort of competitive process will be required for the purchase of quantities of an item or a category of similar items the entire district’s purchases are considered.

Generally speaking the aggregate purchases of a particular category of related items such as office supplies, athletic supplies or instructional supplies must be submitted to competitive bidding when the aggregate purchase will total $50,000 or more over a twelve-month period. For example, if the total purchases of office supplies made by all departments and campuses in the district over a twelve-month period will amount to $50,000 or more, those office supplies must be submitted to competition as required by the Texas Education Code.

The Texas Education Code provides for criminal penalties for persons who intentionally circumvent the purchasing contracts law by making split, separate, sequential, or component purchases. Board Policy CH Local states: “Persons making unauthorized purchases shall assume full responsibility for all such debts”.