Res 0342-2024

Whereas, New York City relies on outside vendors to provide essential services to its citizens such as foster care and legal aid; and Whereas, City contractors depend on timely payment to deliver on their contracts and continue providing services; and Whereas, New York City has perennially struggled to pay outside vendors on time, primarily by failing to register contracts prior to their starting date; and Whereas, Many vendors providing essential services are not-for-profit corporations with limited revenue options beyond payments from the City to fulfill contracts; and Whereas, Vendors have testified at hearings before the New York City Council Committee on Contracts that they have taken on debt to continue operations while waiting for delayed payments from the City; and Whereas, Vendors have testified before the New York City Council Committee on Contracts that they receive little guidance on the expected timetable for contract registration; and Whereas, Delays and procedural red tape in the contract publication and registration process create additional costs and uncertainty for vendors; and Whereas, The New York City Charter requires that a public hearing be noticed, and in most cases held, before the City enters into any contract for goods, services or construction valued at $100,000 or more by a method other than competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed bids from prequalified vendors; and Whereas, This requirement is time-consuming for the City and lengthens the contract registration process; and Whereas, S.7383/A.8864 would replace the current public hearing requirement with a time-limited online public comment period; and Whereas, The New York State Senate has adopted S.7383, with the companion bill A.8864 now awaiting passage in the Assembly; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Assembly to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.7383/A.8864, establishing an online noticing process for public contracts as well as a time-limited comment period. AY LS #16289 4/3/2024