NUTTER: No Bid Contracts

As Councilman, I introduced and successfully passed new legislation to reform the City’s contracting process. New legislation was approved in June 2005 which provides for an open and transparent process for no-bid contracts, limits campaign contributions, and requires mandatory disclosure of campaign contributions before the award of a no-bid contract and during the contract period.

The new no-bid contract procedures took effect on February 1, 2006. A new link on the City's website has totally transformed the old way of doing business in this City. Contracting opportunities are now online and anyone who is eligible may apply. Contract award decisions must be explained online as well. (These are available at "eContracts Philly" at www.phila.gov.)

As Mayor, I will continue these efforts and will grant no-bid contracts as infrequently as possible – and only when there are compelling reasons to do so, award no-bid contracts only to pre-qualified vendors based on factors such as relevant experience and superior past performance, publish an annual report that contains a list of all firms and companies receiving City business, bid and no-bid, the nature of services provided, the amount paid, the names of the principals in the firms, their lawyers, lobbyists and other key representatives.

As Mayor, I will identify pre-incident contracts and other preparations that would facilitate the orderly exercise of emergency powers in the face of natural or other disaster. The City has not initiated a comprehensive effort to identify the pre-incident contracts that would be required to shelter and feed mass numbers of citizens in a catastrophic event. Yet, Federal Emergency Management Agency regulations require competitively bid contracts for goods and services, such as debris removal, for federal reimbursement. Pre-event contracts for goods and services would enhance the City’s ability to respond effectively to a disaster, and would enable the City to sustain itself for 72 hours or more following a major disaster with effective shelter-in-place and quarantine protocols.

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