I just started at a small medical research lab which has never had an
engineer on staff before.  They have most of the tools needed (meter, scope,
power supply, signal gen, etc) but they are VERY short on components (pretty
good selection of resistors and capacitors, but that's about it).

My question is this:  what is the best way to stock this lab so that I can
reasonably expect to put together barebones prototypes without having to buy
anything?  I'd like to keep cost down if possible, below maybe a couple of
hundred dollars, but I'd also like to know that within reason, I'll have a
few of most of the generic parts needed for most projects (i.e., two or
three types of diodes, two or three types of NPN/PNP/NMOS/PMOS/JFET
transistors, LED displays and drivers, etc) WITHOUT having to sit down and
order them individually.  Is there a company that sells a box labelled
"Random Common Electronic Bits"?

Thanks!
Mike H.

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