Section 50-5-50. Purposes and policies of part

   The underlying purposes and policies of this part are:

   (1) To permit the continued development of centralized procurement policies and practices;

   (2) To control and reduce the cost of purchasing, leasing, renting, or otherwise procuring supplies, materials, services, and equipment through the use of centralized purchasing;

   (3) To ensure openness and accessibility by all qualified vendors to the state's purchasing processes so as to achieve the lowest possible costs to the state through effective competition among such vendors;

   (4) To provide for timely, effective, and efficient service to using agencies and to vendors doing business with the state;

   (5) To ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all persons who deal with the procurement system of the state;

   (6) To provide for increased public confidence in the procedures followed in public procurement; and

   (7) To provide safeguards for the maintenance of a procurement system of quality and integrity.

Ga. L. 1931, p. 7, § 2; Code 1933, § 40-1901; Ga. L. 1937, p. 503, § 1; Ga. L. 1939, p. 160, § 1; Ga. L. 1950, p. 280, § 1; Ga. L. 1955, p. 643, § 1; Ga. L. 1979, p. 659, § 1.