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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7417-A INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. ' 7417 j M"s T i 4f0 To the Mirror and Members of the City Council October 3, 1989 Subject: Survey of City Policies on Professional Services Contracting, The staff has conducted a telephone survey among other Texas cities in an attempt to determine if those cities have policies restricting the procurement of professional services to those firms located within their city. The cities responding to the survey and the results are set forth below: ARLINGTON - sends Requests for Proposals (RFP's) statewide, national or international depending upon the service being sought. AUSTIN - sends RFP's statewide in an effort to enhance competition and achieve lower costs. CORPUS CHRISTI - depends upon type of service sought and availability of that service within the city limits. Emphasis is on staying within city limits; but, at the discretion of the Purchasing Division RFP's may be sent statewide to achieve an adequate response. DALLAS - for architecture and engineering services preference is given to "firms having primary offices located within the city limits of Dallas" and "firms having an office in Dallas for at least five years and a permanent staff located in Dallas capable of performing the required work". For other professional service RFP's, Dallas generally goes statewide in an effort to obtain the best professional services available. HOUSTON - for major professional services the City of Houston goes either statewide or national. For minor professional service contracts, such as security or exterminating services, their RFP's are sent only to providers within the city limits. SAN ANTONIO - the only City surveyed which has established performance standards used in the selection process for those competing for professional services and discretionary contracts. Standards are designed to increase contracting opportunities for "local" (having their place of business located withing Bexar County) businesses. A copy of the San Antonio program is attached. [ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 7417- �pTi„re apt too? To the Mayor and Members of the City Council u s xr`'. Subject: Survey of Policies on Professional Services Contracting With the exception of the San Antonio program methodology used by the other surveyed cities is similiar to that currently employed by the City of Fort Worth's Purchasing Division in the procurement of materials and services (other than architectural and engineering services which are not generally procured through Purchasing). Requests for Bids are mailed only to vendors within Fort Worth zip codes if in the opinion of the Purchasing Manager adequate competion can be achieved within the local area. This practice was implemented in 1987 and has worked successfully and without any discernable increase in the cost of materials and services. If additional information is required, it will be provided on request. -W f? d ot*L Zouglas Harman '' City Manager OOOL [ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FLIRT WORTH, TEXAS --- ACTION PROGRAM SUBJECT: PURCHASING AND CONTRACTING RECOMMENDATION: Establish performance standards in the contract selection process o 5 of 16 for those cam . f professional services and discretionary contracts who are*=.((having their place of business located within Bexar County)so as to increase contracting opportunities for local businesses. As goals are being achieved,thew performance standards will be reviewed and enhanced or rescinded.In addition,while the permissive state legislation is not applicable to the City,in the next legislative session we will ask our legislative delegation to include San Antonio in the law. ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITY- Department of Economic and Employment Development Public Works Department City Attorney's Office ACTION STEPS AND DUE DAM: 1.Prepare City Council resolution declaring geographic boundaries for'local* business enterprises.November,198$. 2.Limit discretionary contracts to bidders with offices within Bexar County.If the scope of the project is too complex or large,=ruire joint ventures with local firms.If expertise is unavailable Yt bidders will not be restricted to Bezar County,but will be encouraged 0016* to joint venture with Be za County firms.October,1988. 3.Insofar as legally permissable,performance standards will be incorporated in the selection process for discretionary contracts as follows: (Maximum Preference = 10%) e 5%local =3%if business is located in Bexar County for more than one year plus 2%if located in the corporate Emits of San Antonio for more than one year. •5%designated ownership = 51%Minority Business I Enterprise(MBE),Woman Business Enterprise(WBE) or Handicapped Business Enterprise(HBE). In cum of joint ventures between local and out-of-town arms,preference for local arms will be: •4%joint venture = 2%if joint venture with local firm(19`6 County + 1%City Emits)plus 2%if joint venture with MBE,WBE or HBE. FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS-. If performance standards are established,then a higher cost in contract awards could result due to reduced competition. CURRENT STATUS: In progress. -31.