For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 4, 2019
From the Office of Councilmember Will Jawando
Legislation would increase the number of contracts to locally owned small businesses to 25 percent, allow nonprofit entities to become certified for LSBRP and create a local business goal for direct purchases and contracts
ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 3, 2019—This morning Councilmember Will Jawando, who serves on the Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development and Education and Culture Committees, introduced the Local Small Business Reserve Program (LSBRP) and Direct Purchase Enhancement Act, which would increase the percentage of eligible procurements to certified local for-profit small businesses from 20 to 25 percent and also would allow nonprofit entities to participate in the program.
In addition, Bill 39-19 further defines direct purchases as those purchases and contracts that are less than $10,000 and creates a goal of 50 percent of such purchases by County departments procured from local small businesses. The bill also establishes a report card for agencies, to be produced by the Office of Procurement, to track progress toward this goal and amplify awareness of expenditures less than $10,000.
“It is an understatement to say that small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. With more than 90 percent of commercial enterprise in our county classified as small businesses, I want to increase opportunity for them to do business with county agencies. This is an important step in the right direction, keeping investments in our local economy and creating more transparency related to purchases and contracts.”
A public hearing on Bill 39-19 will be held on January 14, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. Residents can sign up to testify at Council public hearings here: tinyurl.com/CouncilPublicHearing.
The Council staff report for the introduction of Bill 39-19 can be viewed here: tinyurl.com/Bill3919Intro.
Councilmember Jawando’s remarks at the introduction of Bill 39-19 can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/0W5ZOH6UBIE.
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