Restler and MOCS discuss small purchase method and competition

So I...

And to be clear, the disparity I'm referencing is between prime contracts.

But I do want to kind of harp on that point, which is we have–

we've clearly done a very, I think, an admirable job as a city of connecting more MWBEs to small contracts.

Through the $1.5 million procurement cap without a competitive process and being able to select an MWBE for work.

Well, let me, we, one of the first things that we did when we came to the administration that we changed the name of the non-competitive.

It is not non-competitive.

Agencies have the ability to go out in the marketplace.

Solicit prices only from MWBE firms as long as that pricing is a line.

With historical pricing, the agency has the ability to award the contract.

Bless you.

Thank you.

The agency has the ability to award the contract right there on the spot.

Great.

But, and so we've...

It can go through a competitive process to try to get the best price, but they also don't need to go through a competitive process if that's just the fastest procurement vehicle and they want to move quickly.

Correct?

John, do you want to respond to that?

Sure.

There's still an obligation to have some level of consideration for price and what operates is the best value to the city.

So I hear what you're saying.

Well, I don't want there to be a misunderstanding that there is a straight line to a particular vendor that's an MWB that excludes any other.

We want to give due consideration to anyone.

But the important part is that there's a dedicated space right now for those MWBs to operate and have that ability to get those awards.

And so I think that's more the...

Maybe I'll say it a different way.