5685672 Public Hearing on Bill 21-334, Procurement Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability Amendment Act of 2015 and Bill 21-397, Procurement Practices Reform Amendment Act of 2015

CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING

on

Bill 21-334, Procurement Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability Amendment Act of 2015

Bill 21-397, Procurement Practices Reform Amendment Act of 2015

on

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

1:30 p.m., Hearing Room 412, John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

            Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public hearing of the Committee of the Whole on Bill 21-334, the “Procurement Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability Amendment Act of 2015” and Bill 21-397, the “Procurement Practices Reform Amendment Act of 2015.” The hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m., or immediately following the preceding hearing, on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 in Hearing Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building. 

            The stated purpose of Bill 21-334 is to amend the Procurement Practices Reform Act of 2010 to modify the procurement authority exemption for the Department of General Services; establish additional transparency in Council contract summaries; amend requirements for the solicitation and award of privatization contracts; establish restrictions on the performance of inherently governmental functions by contractors; establish an ombudsman for contracting and procurement; prohibit procurement lobbying; establish evaluation criteria related to contractor past performance; require a government cost estimate for construction projects; require payment bonds for service contracts; modify requirements for posting contract information on the Internet; require additional information on acquisition plans; and establish goals for strategic sourcing.

            The stated purpose of Bill 21-397 is to revise the criteria for review by the Council of multiyear contracts and contracts in excess of $1 million; to revise the criteria for review by the Council of options which increase the value of a contract to over $1 million; to amend the “clean hands” certification criteria; to establish rules for District employees to protect the integrity of the procurement process; and to clarify acquisition planning by District agencies.

Those who wish to testify are asked to telephone the Committee of the Whole at
[phone], or to email Evan Cash, Committee Director, at [e-mail], and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Friday, November 6, 2015.  Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony.  If submitted by the close of business on November 6, 2015 the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.  Copies of the bills can be obtained through the Legislative Services Division of the Secretary of the Council’s office or on http://lims.dccouncil.us.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2015.