Vendor Guide / Registration

 

Vendor Guide

This brochure provides general information and purchasing guidelines to use in doing business with the Jackson County Utility Authority (JCUA).  As the Authority must adhere to the current purchasing laws of the State of Mississippi, the following guidelines may be modified at any time.

Authority:

We are the Jackson County Utility Authority, which was created by Senate Bill 2943, cited as the “Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Act.”  We were formally the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority which was created by enabling legislation, House Bill 975 of the 1980 Mississippi State Legislature, Section 49-17-1301 of the Mississippi Code Annotated.

The Authority is governed by a Board of Directors (Board) who are appointed by the Governor of the State of Mississippi.  Meetings are normally scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, at which time, invoices are reviewed for payment, contract/bid awards are considered, and other business is conducted.

As a Governing Authority, it is a tax exempt State Entity.

Within Jackson County, there are various pump stations and four wastewater treatment facilities.  The four facilities are:

• Pascagoula-Moss Point Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility
• Escatawpa Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility
• Gautier Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility
• West Jackson County Regional Land Treatment Facility (Ocean Springs)

General Guidelines

Contact:

All vendors must contact the Purchasing Agent located at 1225 Jackson Ave, Pascagoula, MS 39567 (228-938-6809) for purchasing related business.

Schedule:

Hours of operation are from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  Delivery hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Purchasing Goal:

It is the Authority’s intent to purchase products and services in accordance with the MS State Purchasing Laws and the Authority’s best interest.

Purchasing Procedure:

Purchases which do not exceed $5,000.00, may be made from any vendor.

Purchases which are over $5,000, but not more than $75,000, may be made from the lowest and best quote, provided at least two (2) written competitive quotes have been obtained.  Fax and email quotes are acceptable.

Purchases which exceed $75,000 may be made from the lowest and best bid after advertising for competitive sealed bids once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks and where the date of the bid opening is not less than seven (7) working days after the last published notice.  For construction projects, the date of the bid opening shall not be less than fifteen (15) days after the last published notice.

All bids submitted where said bid is in excess of $75,000 shall contain on the outside of the envelope of such bid the contractor’s current certificate number.  It shall be unlawful for anyone who does not hold a Certificate of Responsibility to submit a bid, enter into a contract, or otherwise engage in or continue in the State of Mississippi in the business as a contractor.  If the Certificate of Responsibility Number is not on the outside of the envelope, that bid shall not be considered further.  To apply for a Certificate of Responsibility (MS State Contractors License), contact the MS State Board of Contractors at 800-880-6161 or check their web site at www. msboc.us.

Any person/company desiring to enter into a formal contract with the Authority for construction, alteration or repair of any public building or public work, shall before entering into such contract, furnish the Authority with proof of general liability insurance coverage in an amount not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for bodily injury and property damage.

State Contracts:

Governing Authorities, such as the Authority, may purchase commodities from MS State Contracts.  These purchases are exempt from the normal bid process, or may be purchased from any source offering identical commodities, at a price not exceeding the state contract price set by the Department of Finance and Administration in Jackson.  For information concerning MS State Competitive Bid Contracts, go to www.dfa.state.ms.us.  This is the MS Department of Finance and Administration’s website.  Click on “Statewide Purchasing,” then click on Bid Opportunities, then Vendor Guide – How to do Business with the State.  There are also General Guidelines in doing business with Governing Authorities and frequently asked questions by vendors interested in doing business with the State of MS.

Services:

Under state law, the Authority is not required to obtain quotes or bids for services, however it may, from time to time, choose to obtain quotes or bids.

IMPORTANT:

All vendors, contractors and service providers must be able to conduct business with the Authority in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi and Jackson County.

*Because laws and regulations may change, please consult the Authority with any questions about additional modified requirements in place at the time of your inquiry.