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Emergency procurement

Emergency procurement lets a county skip normal bidding to buy what it needs immediately to protect public health or safety, such as after a storm or a sudden failure of critical equipment.

State laws allow counties to buy without the usual advertising and bidding in a genuine emergency. The county typically still gets quotes where it can, documents the emergency, and reports the purchase to its board afterward.

For vendors

  • Emergency work goes to companies the county already knows and trusts. Being registered and having worked with the county before matters.
  • Have your insurance certificates, W-9 and rates ready to send immediately.
  • After the emergency, related follow-up work (permanent repairs, replacements) is usually bid normally, so watch for it.

Last reviewed Oct 30, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and thresholds change; check the current statute and the bid documents.