Purchasing Department

The responsibility for purchasing materials and services for the District is centralized in the Purchasing Department. In accordance with State law, the Board of Education maintains the final responsibility for all purchases and contracts, and this responsibility cannot be delegated. As a result, all transactions between the District and any other entity or person involving the transfer of property or rendering of services, including purchase orders, contracts and agreements, are subject to approval or ratification by the Board of Education. The Director of Purchasing shall ensure that appropriate purchasing regulations and procedures are established and followed. All District purchasing transactions shall be conducted in an ethical, efficient, and business-like manner, and shall be based upon the highest standards of fairness, honesty and integrity.

Our Mission:

Operate in a diversified educational environment serving the best interest of our students, teachers, and District staff.

Our Goals:

Assist the District’s overall educational process at all times, understand all conditions, and to ensure a constant supply of goods and services necessary to support all school sites and departments.
Give prime consideration to the District’s best interests, while maintaining fair, courteous and ethical relationships with all of our suppliers.

The Purchasing Department is responsible for providing purchasing and contracting services to the District’s sites and departments. The primary elements of this service:

Conduct purchasing transactions in accordance with established Board of Education policies and consistent with all State and Federal laws.
Conduct competitive bidding by means of advertised bids, written quotations, and oral price quotations in compliance with Board Policy, Administrative Regulations and/or State amd Federal laws.
Submit listings of all purchase orders written for ratification and /or approval by the Board of Education.
Conduct, supervise, and coordinate all purchase transactions for the schools and operating departments of the District from those sources able to offer the best prices consistent with quality, delivery, and service.
Maintain sound business management principles and efficient office procedures, reports, records, and systems for the proper conduct of the department.
Prepare and maintain an up-to-date stock catalog organized in accordance with principles of simplification and standardization.
Act as a center of information on sources for services, equipment, and supplies used by the District.
Maintain and disseminate current trade catalogs to all schools and departments as needed and/or requested.
Establish and maintain a system of inventory control to account for available equipment and supplies to ensure that sufficient materials are on hand and that equipment is properly identified and insured.
Establish a purchasing calendar to consolidate the ordering of seasonal items and seek price benefits through proper timing and quantity of purchasing.
Handle the disposal of all surplus, obsolete, or scrap materials and District records as authorized and approved by the Board of Education.
Ensure that items received are as ordered relative to quantity, quality, brand, and price.
Ensure that all orders are placed on the basis of quality, price, and delivery with no favoritism extended to any vendor.
Ensure that all vendors and contractors comply with the Immigration and Reform and Control Act of 1986 and are Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employers.

Terms & Conditions for Commodity POs

Independent Contractor Agreement for Non-Construction Services

Service Agreement Insurance Requirements

Contractor/Vendor Registration:

Thank you for interest in doing business with the Downey Unified School District.

The Downey Unified School District Vendor Portal is powered by PlanetBids; an intuitive, web enabled eProcurement system, provided to better serve and convenience its Vendor and Contractor partners. Registered vendors and contractors can receive automatic bid alert notifications based on the commodity codes and categories selected, view and/or download bid documents, become a prospective bidder, and bid electronically, when applicable.

To register as a vendor with Downey Unified School District, click on the PlanetBids logo below:

This will navigate you to the District’s Vendor Portal on PlanetBids.

1. Click on “Vendor Registration”.

2. Complete all fields in “Vendor Detail.”

3. Select all applicable categories for your business.
• Contractors Only: To be added to the District’s CUPCCAA Contractors list; please choose the CUPCCA category option (No. 00001)

4. A confirmation email will be sent to you upon registration. You do not need to wait for this email to begin using the system.

5. To view current bid opportunities, please click on “Bid Opportunities.” This will navigate you to a complete listing of all the District’s current bid opportunities.

6. All bid documents and instructions for each bid can be found on the different tabs on the “Bid Opportunities” page.

Thank you for expressing an interest in doing business with the Downey Unified School District!

Purchasing & Warehouse Team

Erica C. Bonilla

Director, Purchasing & Warehouse

(562) 469-6531
ebonilla@dusd.net

Responsibilities

• Contracts
• Rentals/Rental Agreements
• Maintenance Agreements
• Construction/Modernization Projects
• Architectural Services
• Transportation Services
• Contracted Services
• Consultant Agreements
• Vehicles

Adriana Garcia

Senior Secretary

(562) 469-6532
adgarcia@dusd.net

Responsibilities

• Conference Registrations
• Earthquake Supplies and Equipment
• Field Trips
• Health Supplies
• Nursing/Dental Equipment and Supplies
• Purchase Order Distribution and Mailing
• General Clerical
• Memberships
• Warehouse Stock – Health Supplies
• Printing Services/Equipment/Supplies

Danny Jimenez

Senior Buyer

(562) 469-6533
djimenez@dusd.net

Responsibilities

• Computers, Printers and Other Peripheral Items
• STEAM Equipment and Supplies
• Audio/Visual Equipment and Supplies
• Copiers/Duplicators and Related Supplies
• Photo Equipment and Supplies
• Grounds Supplies and Equipment
• Irrigation Supplies and Equipment
• Operations Supplies and Equipment
• Maintenance Supplies and Equipment
• Transportation Supplies and Equipment
• Hand-tools
• Lumber
• Public Works Small Projects (CUPCCAA)

Florence Shih

Buyer

(562) 469-6534
fshih@dusd.net

Responsibilities

• Food
• Outside Food Catering Services
• Food Services Equipment and Supplies
• Subscriptions
• Maps and Globes
• Instructional Supplies and Materials
• Books – Text, Supplemental and Library
• Special Education Instructional Materials
• Special Education Equipment
• Testing Materials

Jorge Vargas

Buyer

(562) 469-6535
jorvargas@dusd.net

Responsibilities

• Office Equipment and Supplies
• Furniture
• Athletic Equipment and Supplies
• Uniforms
• Science Equipment and Supplies
• Art Equipment and Supplies
• Promotional Items
• Paper
• Trophies, Awards, Medallions
• Diplomas/Graduation Supplies
• Library Furniture and Supplies
• Rubber Stamps and Nameplates
• Instructional Supplies and Materials

Ivan Uriarte

Warehouse Supervisor

(562) 469-6659
iuriarte@dusd.net

Warehouse Address

Downey Unified School District
Warehouse
11627 Brookshire Avenue (enter on Davis Street)
Downey, CA 90241

Katrina Juarez-Lorenzetti

Intermediate Clerical Assistant
Records/Inventory

(562) 469-6665
kjuarezlorenzetti@dusd.net

Responsibilities

• Records Scanning
• Records Maintenance and Request for Records
• Disposal of District Records
• Disposal of District Surplus Equipment and Supplies
• District Inventory and Surplus