PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Thirty-fourth Annual Report of the PURCHASING COMMISSION JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31 1976 Printed by K. M. MacDonald, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1977 The Honourable Evan Wolfe, Minister of Finance, Province of British Columbia, Victoria, B.C. Sir: We have the honour to submit the Thirty-fourth Annual Report of the Purchasing Commission, covering the period January 1, 1976, to December 31, 1976. A. W. CHARLTON Acting Chairman L. J. WALLACE Member G. L. J. GILES Member Thirty-fourth Annual Report of the Purchasing Commission January 1 to December 31, 1976 GENERAL In the year 1976 the volume of business remained steady inasmuch as the total number of purchase orders and the over-all value differed very little from the previous year, showing decreases of 3.34 per cent and 1.57 per cent respectively. The Purchasing Commission underwent an independent survey conducted by the consulting firm of Stevenson & Kellogg Ltd. It is most gratifying to be able to report that the result of the survey indicates a high level of efficiency throughout the Purchasing Commission and reflects great credit on its staff. A number of recommendations, some of which were already being activated, will be initiated during the coming year. Over the better part of the year a system of price-monitoring has been in effect in line with the Anti-Inflation Board policy, thus providing protection for our "public purchasing" interests. Department and Division Number of Purchase Orders Total Value of Purchase Orders 1975 1976 1975 1976 1,307 883 293 4,606 51,055 1,165 950 349 4,551 49,190 $ 7,620,459 17,972 258,802 5,253,022 112,876,920 $ 7,776,582 Provincial Secretary— 28,133 (b) Library Development Commission (c) Queen's Printer Finance—Purchasing Commission for all depart- 210,315 6,282,616 109,763,369 Totals 58,144 56,205 126,027,175 124,061,015 STAFF Difficulties were experienced in maintaining a proper staff level, but with the judicious movement and co-operation of personnel we have been able to keep our work up to date generally. Nevertheless, the shortage of certain key personnel over a fairly lengthy period is not conducive to a high level of efficiency and the effect is unfortunately beginning to become apparent. During the year the Commission was most unfortunate in losing the fine services of the late "Bill" Kelly, whose sudden demise in July presented our Vancouver office with a difficult situation and which has been aggravated by considerable sickness both in the purely purchasing functions and in the support areas. The retirement of T. L. Vardy, former Chairman and purchasing agent, after 26 years of Government service resulted in the appointment of A. W. Charlton, former Chief Purchasing Agent (Victoria), to the position of Acting Chairman. Other retirements during the year saw F. White, Supervisor of the Business Machines Repair Division complete 33 years of Government service, and W. Neilson, K 6 BRITISH COLUMBIA Foreman in the same division, terminate a career lasting 29 years. While in our Langford Warehouse, J. Morgan, senior stockman, retired after 28 years, giving a sum total of 116 years service by these four employees. BUSINESS MACHINES DIVISION This Division was rated very highly by the Stevenson & Kellogg Ltd. survey, both as to its efficiency and the extremely low cost to the Government in providing the essential repair services to nearly 25,000 Government office machines throughout British Columbia. It functioned for the last seven months of the year without the services of either supervisor or foreman in the Victoria shop, but, in spite of every effort by the staff as a whole, it is regrettably apparent that the "preventive maintenance" program is steadily falling behind, an unfortunate situation which will inevitably mean higher repair costs. It is firmly believed that the establishment of two or three "one-man" service centres in the larger cities of the Interior of the Province would greatly enhance our maintenance program. Table 1—Machines as at December 31, 1975 Type of Machine Number in Ministerial Offices Number in Vocational Schools Total Number 8,600 5,587 5,933 1,790 281 180 195 113 8,881 Adding and calculating machines _ 5,767 6,128 Miscellaneous equipment—posting, bookkeeping, cash regis- 1,903 Total as at December 31, 1975 21,910 769 22,679 1 Table 2—Machines as at December 31 7976 9,200 6,366 6,395 311 192 212 9,511 6,558 6,607 Miscellaneous equipment 1,907 121 2,028 Total as at December 31, 1976 23,868 836 24,704 THE VANCOUVER OFFICE This office was in the happy position of being able to report a nil staff turnover, which reflects a most satisfactory working atmosphere. H. Lanki was appointed to replace the late W. A. Kelly as marine purchasing agent and the resulting vacancy is now in the process of being filled. SURPLUS DISPOSAL SECTION This Section continues to provide a very useful service in the disposal of surplus Government equipment of all kinds and as in previous years has collected revenue totalling some $460,275 from the sale of such equipment. In addition, the many internal transfers between the ministries has undoubtedly resulted in both further savings and meeting needs which may well have otherwise been unfulfilled. REPORT OF PURCHASING COMMISSION K 1 Revenue derived from sales on behalf of $ $ Ministry of Highways and Public Works— (a) Buildings 4,847.64 (b) Equipment 281,727.89 286,575.53 286,575.53 Other ministries 173,699.49 Total 460,275.02 INVENTORY CONTROL SECTION This Section, which was re-established in 1974 with a staff of two, has made considerable progress inasmuch as an office furniture inventory has been completed with the exception of one branch of a ministry. Field audits have disclosed that the returns made by the several ministries were well completed. As an extension to this Section, a vehicle inventory is also well advanced and preliminary plans are being formulated to investigate the need to bring audio/visual equipment within the inventory control. LANGFORD WAREHOUSE Although the value of goods, $841,744, processed through the warehouse is slightly less than the previous year, this unit continues to provide a much needed service to several ministries. CONCLUSION Once again the Purchasing Commission acknowledges the specialized purchasing under delegated authority by the Queen's Printer, the Director of Publication Services, the Legislative Librarian and Archivist, and the Superintendent of the Library Development Commission. In addition, the continued co-operation of all ministries in such matters as inventory, procedural changes of which there were several, is most appreciated. Printed by K. M. MacDonald, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1977 155-177-4968
BC Sessional Papers
Thirty-fourth Annual Report of the PURCHASING COMMISSION JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31 1976 British Columbia. Legislative Assembly 1977
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