Responsible Contracting
Issue: Defending Workers & Families
Target Level of Office: Local
Policy Origin: In the Public Interest
Link: www.YEONetwork.org/2013policy/?i=200
Summary Narrative of the Policy: Responsible government contracting policy, like the Taxpayer
Empowerment Agenda from our partners at In the Public Interest, will help increase government
transparency, accountability, shared prosperity, diversity and competition—the underpinnings
of democracy itself. Reforming the contracting process through ensuring living wages, nondiscriminatory employment processes, and the provision of health insurance will promote the
well-being of taxpayers and our communities.
Relevant Talking Points & Important Information:
• “Eager for quick cash, state and local governments across America are handing over
control of critical public services and assets to corporations that promise to handle
them better, faster and cheaper. Unfortunately for taxpayers, not only has outsourcing
these services failed to keep this promise, but too often it undermines transparency,
accountability, shared prosperity and competition.” The Taxpayer Empowerment Agenda
• Responsible procurement and contracting policies will help taxpayers reclaim control of
our democracy. And state and local lawmakers who champion these proposals will stand
on the side of the taxpayers—and plain common sense.
• Many federal, state, and local government contracting processes already promote high
standards by evaluating offers based on price as well as whether companies provide
good jobs or meet other social objectives. For example:
• The federal government uses non-cost factors in its offer evaluation process,
including a company’s past performance, whether the work will be performed
in disadvantaged areas, and if prime contractors plan to meet small business
subcontracting goals.
• California and Massachusetts utilize quantified point systems to evaluate and
weigh a range of non-cost factors, including a company’s record of complying
with labor, health and safety, and other laws.
• El Paso, Texas has implemented a scoring system that considers whether companies
provide health insurance to their employees.
Policy
2014 Book
Local Level
21