(a) The Commissioner of Property and Procurement is authorized and directed to create and maintain within the Department a Division of Central Warehousing and Inventory. The Division shall be created from employees within the Department and such other government personnel as may be reassigned to the Department from other departments and agencies for the purpose of effectively administering this section. The Commissioner shall establish on each main island a central warehouse for the storage, inventory and delivery of goods and services to the Government departments and agencies located on that island. Within this Division of the Department of Property and Procurement, to the maximum extent practicable, there shall be a “desk officer” and a “buyer” responsible for comprehensive coordination with each major department of its procurement needs. Consistent with the enforcement provisions of this chapter, the Commissioner shall issue rules and regulations for strict accountability of all commodities purchased for Government use.
(b) It is the purpose of the Division of Central Warehousing and Inventory, and the Commissioner shall have the power and the duties necessary to carry out such purpose, to procure and inventory all of the materials, supplies, equipment, parts, and other operating tools for the Government of the United States Virgin Islands in order to minimize the costs of such items through bulk purchases, central storage, and maximum efficient use of inventory procedures; provided that any department or agency specifically authorized by law to procure materials, supplies, equipment, parts, and other operating tools directly may do so to the extent such procurement is not practical through the Division of Central Warehousing and Inventory. The Division shall maintain inventory control and accountability through maximum use of Government computer facilities or the addition of expanded computer facilities as may be required for maximum efficiency.
(c) All departments and agencies of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands shall cooperate to the maximum extent possible with the Commissioner of Property and Procurement in order to carry out the purposes of this section. Each department and agency is authorized to transfer personnel to the Department of Property and Procurement as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, with the approval of the Governor, is authorized to transfer to the Department of Property and Procurement in whole or in part the amount appropriated for materials, equipment, or supplies in any fiscal year to any department or agency of the executive branch or any board or commission, which transfer shall be for the purpose of procurement of materials, supplies, equipment, parts, and other operating tools for all departments, agencies, boards and commissions of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands.
(d) The Commissioner of Property and Procurement in cooperation with the Commissioner of Finance shall establish a separate and distinct fund for bulk procurements authorized by this section. Monies shall be deposited in the fund from transfers made by subsection (c) of this section or which may be directly appropriated thereto. The purpose of the fund shall be to facilitate prompt payment of bulk purchases where such prompt payment will result in a discount of the purchase price. The Commissioner of Finance shall take such steps as may be necessary to insure that prompt payments are made from the fund in a manner necessary to realize the discount offered for timely payment.
(e) Through the use of inventory and central warehousing and bulk purchases the Commissioner of Property and Procurement shall insure a steady supply of materials, supplies, equipment, parts, and other operating tools of each department, agency, board, and commission within each fiscal year and from one fiscal year to the next.