* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Harris
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Request for State Legislation - Baltimore City Public School System - Procurement
FOR the purpose of respectfully requesting the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly to sponsor legislation to place the procurement activities of the Baltimore City Public School System under the authority of the Bureau of Purchases of the Baltimore City Department of Finance to assure that, as part of a centralized purchasing system, maximum benefits are obtained at most cost-effective expenditure by the public school system.
Body
Recitals
The stated goal of the Bureau of Purchases of the Department of Finance is to obtain the right materials, in the right quantity, for the delivery at the right time and the right place, from the right source, with the right service, at the right price. The Bureau of Purchases objectives are listed as:
* Provide an uninterrupted flow of materials, supplies, and services required to operate the City.
* Identify cost effective inventory reduction methods.
* Maintain adequate quality standards.
* Encourage competition with current e-commerce technologies.
* Standardize, where possible, items bought.
* Purchase required items and services at lowest ultimate price.
* Maintain the City's ability to deliver services. The City will only be able to deliver required services if it can control costs.
* Achieve harmonious, productive working relations with other departments in the City.
* The Bureau of Purchases must accomplish the purchasing objectives a the lowest level of administrative costs.
The Procurement Division conducts the foremost responsibilities of the Bureau of Purchases and through the procurement staff of engineers, buyers, purchasing assistants, and other support personnel, ensures that the various agencies and quasi agencies of City government "acquire the required materials, goods, equipment, and services at the right time, of good quality, in the desired quantity, at fair reasonable prices, and when applicable, on a continuing basis".
The 1997 state legislation establishing the City-State public school partnership specifically removed the Baltimore City Public School System from oversight or management by the City's Bureau of Purchases and placed it with the Board of School Commissioners: "Notwithstanding any provision of local law, the Board shall adopt rules and regulations governing the procurement of goods and services by the Baltimore City Public School System" at the same time requiring the Board to "adopt the Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise goals of Baltimore City relating to procurement".
Returning the procurement process of the Baltimore City Public School System to the supervision and direction the Bureau of Purchases will secure economy of scale for certain purchases, provide ongoing oversight of the entire procurement process, insure review and approval of emergency contracts by the fiscal expertise of the Board of Estimates, and will ultimately result in a more cost effective use of the System's limited fiscal resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly are respectfully requested to sponsor legislation to place the procurement activities of the Baltimore City Public School System under the authority of the Bureau of Purchases of the Baltimore City Department of Finance to assure that, as part of a centralized purchasing system, maximum benefits are obtained at most cost-effective expenditure by the public school system.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Resolution be forwarded to the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly following the convening of the 2007 Session on January 10, 2007.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2007 Session of the Maryland General Assembly, the CEO and CFO of the Baltimore City Public School System, the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, the Director of Finance, the Executive Director of the Office of State Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
dlr06-1031~intro/10Oct06
ccres/buy/nf
dlr06-1031~intro/10Oct06
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ccres/buy/nf