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Columbia County procurement manager outlines bidding process, contract oversight and warehouse operations
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Summary
Procurement Manager Glenn Osteen described how Columbia County uses the Bonfire platform for solicitations, steps in on purchases at $25,000, manages contract renewals via Conga Novadas, operates a central warehouse handling roughly 100,000 mail pieces a year, and pursues a national procurement award.
Glenn Osteen, Columbia County procurement manager, walked through how the county runs solicitations, manages contracts and operates a central warehouse in a video interview published by the county.
"There's two different types of procurement, decentralized and centralized," Osteen said, and explained that Columbia County is decentralized: individual departments make purchases while procurement provides policies and ensures compliance. "When it hits $25,000 the procurement steps in and we will take care of that process to get them, you know, what they need to operate," he said.
Osteen described the county’s public solicitation process and the platforms it uses. The county posts bids, requests for proposals and other solicitations through the Bonfire portal; sealed bids prioritize price while RFPs evaluate proposals for services, warranties and other qualitative factors. "All we care about is the number" for sealed bids, he said, but in RFPs the price is only one factor among service, fit and guarantees.
The procurement office also supports vendors through registration and notification. Osteen said vendors should register in Bonfire and select commodity codes to receive notices and addenda. "And any addendums or anything that goes out, you would get notified," he said.
On contract oversight, Osteen said Brandy, the county’s contract supervisor, uses a system the transcript identifies as Conga Novadas to track renewal dates and notify departments ahead of expirations so they can decide whether to renew or solicit replacements. He described a common contract structure: a one-year base term with up to four one-year renewal options and a standard 30-day out clause.
Procurement’s compliance role extends to state and federal requirements. Osteen pointed to the need for periodic GDOT certification for road-construction work and said the office's broader duty is to "protect the integrity of the process" and ensure vendors are treated fairly.
The procurement warehouse serves as a centralized hub for county mail, deliveries and records retention. Osteen said staff members handle daily mail and deliveries—"Jacob sees every department every single day"—and that the warehouse processed about 100,000 pieces of mail last year and handled more than 2,500 package-delivery work orders.
Surplus county property follows the county’s ordinance-driven disposal rules: items that can be sold are posted on GovDeals, metal is routed to recycling, and disposal actions pass through an administrative approval chain that may involve administration or the commission depending on the item.
Osteen also described the department’s awards and training. He said the office has received the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award for three years, is preparing an application due in May and credits staff who maintain required certifications. "We stay abreast of all the changes and laws," he said.
Cassidy Harris, Public Relations Director for Columbia County, closed the segment by encouraging interested vendors and suppliers to reach out; the county said contact information would be provided with the video.
The video provides an overview of procurement operations and lays out steps for businesses that want to bid on county work; it does not announce specific procurements or award decisions.
