Number
191446
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
190001
Sponsor
ALD. COGGS, STAMPER, PEREZ AND LEWIS
Title
Resolution relating to access to City contracting opportunities.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Commissioner of Public Works and the Office of Small Business Development to work collaboratively to increase access to City contracting opportunities, particularly in relation to educating small business owners on complying with City contracting application and paperwork requirements.
Body
Whereas, The 2020 Adopted Budget includes a Common Council-added footnote (Amendment 4) directing the Commissioner of Public Works and the Office of Small Business Development in the Department of Administration to create and execute workshops for contractors on best practices for how to complete paperwork needed for City contracting opportunities; and
Whereas, The Department of Public Works has on occasion experienced a shortage of contractors submitting bids for City contracting opportunities; and
Whereas, A shortage of or complete lack of competitive bids for Public Works contracts may increase the City’s project costs, lead to delays, and cause City departments to accept bids that do not fully satisfy the Department’s needs in order to move forward with projects; and
Whereas, A shortage of bids for City contracting opportunities may reflect the existence institutional barriers to contracting; and
Whereas, One institutional barrier may be the number and complexity of forms, applications and related paperwork that a contractor must complete and submit in order to be eligible to bid on a City contract; and
Whereas, Completing City contracting paperwork can be time-consuming, and may discourage otherwise-eligible contractors from submitting bids, while errors or incomplete paperwork may cause otherwise-competitive bids to be disregarded; and
Whereas, Satisfying the City’s contracting application and paperwork requirements may be particularly onerous for small business owners with limited resources; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Commissioner of Public Works and the Office of Small Business Development in the Department of Administration shall create and execute training and information-sharing opportunities on best practices for completing City contracting application and paperwork requirements; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of Public Works and the Office of Small Business Development shall report to the Common Council within 120 days of adoption of this resolution.
Requestor
Drafter
Dana Zelazny
LRB175624-1
December 10, 2019