This report concerns public purchasing at all levels of government and brings into focus the role of the purchasing official in government management. Covered in the report are essential elements of the purchasing process, including the assessment of needs; written specifications; advertising, evaluating, and awarding bids; and inspection and testing procedures. It concludes with a review and evaluation of purchasing manuals. The scope of the research effort extends from state and local laws to written policies and day-to-day practices. Its purpose is to examine differences in current practices and to recommend those characteristics that promote strong and effective programs. The appendixes contain (1) data gathered in the research of state statutes and regulations, (2) results of the nationwide survey of cities and counties having populations of 10,000 and over, (3) the scope of the study and the methodology used, (4) a glossary of suggested terms and definitions, and (5) a bibliography composed of a list of general references and a list of legal citations used in the study. (Author/MLF)