Title
Amendment of CRA Purchasing Policy (B)
Explanation:
On May 16th, 2016 the CRA Board approved a revision to the CRA Purchasing Policy to enhance opportunities with small businesses. Changes included: 1) the establishment of a service-disabled veteran business enterprise category; 2) an increase in the number of required written quotes to three with one of the quotes from a small business; and 3) a 5% preference applied to small businesses in qualifications-based solicitations above $50,000. The purpose for the Policy revision was to increase spend with small, minority and women-owned local businesses.
Since the 2016 revision, the City Commission updated the Purchasing Policy of the City of Gainesville to bring the Policy in line with current professional procurement standards (approved July 6, 2017, resolution number 170116). The goal of the changes was to update the Purchasing Policy to better serve internal and external customers through improved efficiencies and a more effective procurement process.
This administrative update to the CRA Procurement policy would bring the policy in-line with the City’s most recent revisions and would provide effective support for businesses that want to work with the CRA.
Proposed revisions include:
§ Using language that is clear and easy to understand
§ Updating procurement related definitions
§ Aligning the quote threshold to present-day levels of peer cities and utilities
§ Clarifying lobbying and black out period requirements during solicitations
§ Adding a monetary cap to the 5% preference to small businesses
§ Applying the preference only when the Local Preference Ordinance does not apply
§ Increasing the threshold for CRA Board approval to $100,000
§ Raising the waiver amount for first time orders with a small business
§ ...
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