Summary

Businesses interested in contracting with King County should find the process easier to navigate and more efficient under a new Executive Order signed today by King County Executive Dow Constantine to reform the county’s procurement and business processes.

Story

Businesses interested in contracting with King County should find the process easier to navigate and more efficient under a new Executive Order signed today by King County Executive Dow Constantine to reform the county’s procurement and business processes.

“These reforms will provide greater contracting opportunities for small- and disadvantaged businesses,” said Constantine. “They will also simplify our procurement practices to make it easier for any business that wants to work with the county.”

Under the Executive order, county agencies will set a goal of using small contractors and suppliers (SCS) for at least half of their direct voucher purchases and purchase orders under $5,000, if the option of those vendors is available.

Agencies must also strive to obtain at least one quote from a county-certified small business for purchases between $5,000 and $24,999.

The changes will strip away 14 pages of outmoded paperwork in the county’s standard contracting package, enhance the use of technology in procurement processes and make Requests for Proposals and Invitations to Bid more user-friendly.

The Executive Order, along with three pieces of companion legislation being sent to the King County Council, directs the county to expand its partnerships with other public agencies to provide information on upcoming public contracting opportunities, access to public procurement specialists, and networking opportunities for prime contractors and subcontractors.

The Executive Order also establishes voluntary goals for using minority- and women-owned businesses on county-owned construction projects and expands outreach efforts to prime and disadvantaged contractors for meeting participation goals on federally-funded projects.

The Executive Order emphasizes the use of new technologies to notify vendors of upcoming bid invitations, analyze county spending practices, eliminate purchasing inefficiencies, take advantage of supplier discounts, and develop cooperative purchasing agreements with other jurisdictions throughout the region to reduce the costs per unit and save taxpayer dollars.

“As small businesses, and in particular minority-owned businesses, this policy represents an opportunity to engage in a meaningful way with King County on these shared goals,” said Ollie Garrett, the President and CEO of PMT-Solutions and President of Tabor 100, a local business support organization. “The policy is only a beginning to discussion, ideas and progress, but a very important beginning.”

“The Executive’s effort to hold Department heads accountable as part of their job performance for ensuring that all communities get to participate in the economic revitalization of this region is a tremendous step in the right direction,” said Nate Miles, business leader and community advocate.

Executive Constantine previewed his procurement and contracting reforms Monday as part of his “Blueprint for Reform” for King County.

The Executive Order takes effect immediately today, and staff in the county’s Finance and Business Operations Division are working with other county departments and agencies to implement the new policy. The related legislation must be approved by the King County Council.