What’s the difference between a Purchase Order, a Blanket Purchase Agreement, a Contract, and an Agreement?

Purchase Orders are used for planned material/supply purchases. Blanket Purchase Agreements are usually established annually for obtaining materials and supplies for: non-inventoried items; emergencies; etc. Contracts are used for any fixed-price or fixed-unit price purchases, large-scale apparatus or professional services where there may be the exposure of risk/liability to the Agency or special warranty provisions requiring added coverage. Agreements are usually used for multi-party arrangements or specialized services. Agreement pricing could fluctuate based upon predetermined factors; e.g., lease agreements, maintenance agreements, etc.