PHILADELPHIA, June 13, 2019 – Today, members voted unanimously to approve a Charter change, introduced earlier this spring by Councilmember Derek S. Green (At-Large), to revise and modernize the City of Philadelphia’s procurement procedures, simplifying the contract process for local businesses and expanding upon efforts to create a more efficient, business-friendly environment in our City.
Under Resolution #190299 and Bill #190290, a ballot question will be put to voters in the November election to increase thresholds for formal bids and Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) from the Office of Procurement from $34,000 to $75,000 for all business and up to $100,000 for local businesses. This change would expand access to more small businesses – especially for minority- and woman-owned establishments – and incentivize diversity and competition. Contracts less than $34,000 will continue to not have to go through the traditional RFP process.
This past May, the City of Philadelphia was provided even more leverage in its endeavor to create a more equitable procurement process in the form of a $50,000 grant awarded via the Living Cities’ Accelerator program, designed to aid the efforts of cities nationwide in their expansion of local business opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned enterprises.
“I’m thrilled and extremely encouraged for the future of our small businesses, the City’s economic vitality and most importantly, the possibility of job creation and reduction of poverty in Philadelphia, thanks to the continued partnership with the Kenney administration and my colleagues in City Council,” said Councilmember Green. “There is still more work to be done, but we are on the right track, once voters – many of whom will be the direct beneficiaries of this legislation – have an opportunity to approve this program in November.”
If the ballot question receives a favorable vote in November, the revisions will take effect in January 2020.
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