FAIRNESS AND IMPARTIALITY IN ALL PHASES OF THE PROCESS ARE AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IN PUBLIC PURCHASING. DEALINGS WITH VENDORS AND PEERS MUST BE OPEN, HONEST, AND OBJECTIVE. LIKE ALL SERVICE FUNCTIONS, PURCHASING'S JUSTIFICATION IS THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICE IT RENDERS. THE PROCESS CANNOT BE BOTH EFFECTIVE AND SELF-SERVING, THE TWO ARE INCOMPATIBLE. IN THE CASE OF PUBLIC PURCHASING, UTMOST FAIRNESS IS REQUIRED IN EXPENDING PUBLIC FUNDS. THE RESULT OF FAVORITISM EXTENDED TO EITHER A USER OR SELLER IS THE SAME. THE PRACTICE IS NOT PERMISSIBLE. NO MATTER HOW STRONGLY A USER MAY PREFER A PARTICULAR PRODUCT OVER OTHERS, EQUIVALENT PRODUCTS MUST BE GIVEN EVERY REASONABLE CONSIDERATION. WE MUST COMMIT AND ADHERE TO FAIR AND OPEN COMPETITION. INTEGRITY IS A PRINCIPAL STOCK IN TRADE FOR THE PUBLIC PURCHASER. INTEGRITY IS MANIFESTED BY FAIRNESS, OPENNESS, AND IMPARTIALITY AND CAN BE TARNISHED BY EVEN THE SLIGHTEST APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY. ONCE THIS OCCURS, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REGAIN.
