For Immediate Release: Friday, January 10, 2020
From the Office of Councilmember Will Jawando
WHAT: Press conference
WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 at 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: 4th Floor Capital Crescent Trail Room, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville
WHO:
TOPIC: Bill 39-19, the Local Small Business Reserve Program (LSBRP) and Direct Purchase Enhancement Act. The Council will hold a public hearing on Bill 39-19 at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, following the press conference. The Council staff report can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/Bill3919PH.
Bill 39-19 would increase the percentage of eligible procurements to certified local for-profit small businesses from 20 to 25 percent and 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.
Councilmember Jawando is the lead sponsor of Bill 39-19. Councilmembers Craig Rice, Nancy Navarro, Hans Riemer, Gabe Albornoz and Evan Glass, Council Vice President Tom Hucker and Council President Sidney Katz are cosponsors.
Councilmember Jawando’s remarks at the introduction of Bill 39-19 can be viewed here:
https://youtu.be/0W5ZOH6UBIE.