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AN ACT
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
_____________________
To establish statutory purposes and policies for the procurement of goods, services and
construction in the District of Columbia; to authorize supplementary general principles
of applicable law; to require an obligation of good faith; to establish the statutory
applicability of the delineated procurement requirements; to authorize severability of
statutory provisions; to establish the Office of Contracting and Procurement; to establish
criteria for review by the Council of multiyear contracts and contracts in excess of $1
million; to establish and authorize a Chief Procurement Officer of the Office of
Contracting and Procurement; to establish the duties of the Chief Procurement Officer;
to clarify the regulatory powers and authority of the Chief Procurement Officer; to
authorize the establishment of a procurement training institute; to delineate the source
selection methods; to establish the requirements for competitive sealed bids; to establish
the requirements for competitive sealed proposals; to regulate the use of sole source
procurements; to authorize emergency procurements; to authorize human care
agreements; to establish the requirements for small purchase procurements; to authorize
special procurements; to provide for and authorize exemptions for competition
requirements in District procurements; to establish requirements for the cancellation of
solicitations; to regulate and prohibit collusive bidding; to prohibit contingency contracts
and the improper disclosure of confidential or proprietary proposal or bid information; to
authorize the termination of improper contracts and establish what costs are payable and
what should be refunded; to establish the rights of the District to audit contract records
and data or to inspect the premises of District contractors; to authorize the contracting
officer to require a contractor to substantiate an offered price; to establish the types of
contracts authorized and prohibited in the District; to prohibit cost-plus-a-percentage-of-
cost contracts; to prohibit cost-reimbursement contracts, unless duly authorized in
accordance with the act; to authorize the use of other contract types; to regulate
multiyear contracts; to establish delivery methods for the procurement of infrastructure
facilities and services; to establish and require source selection methods for
infrastructure facilities and services project delivery methods; to establish additional
procedures and require their application to certain project delivery methods; to establish
requirements for the procurement of architectural and engineering services; to establish
Codification
District of
Columbia
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the requirements for bonds and other forms of security in District procurements; to
require bid security for construction contracts in excess of $100,000 in an amount at
least equal to 5% of the bid price; to establish the requirements for performance and
payment bonds in construction contracts in excess of $100,000; to establish the forms of
bonds and how copies can be obtained; to authorize other forms of security; to establish
the fiscal responsibility requirements of contract modifications, change orders or
contract price adjustments in construction contracts; to establish the rules and
requirements for the management of District supplies; to authorize the donation of
surplus goods; to authorize the creation and establishment of the District of Columbia
Surplus Property Sales Revolving Fund and how the funds contained therein may be
retained and utilized; to prohibit the use of sovereign immunity defense, unless
otherwise authorized; to prohibit the liability for punitive damages for actions based on
written contracts; to authorize District claims against contractors; to establish debarment
and suspension requirements; to regulate and establish processes for claims by
contractors against the District under or relating to a contract; to establish when rates on
claims are payable and how they will be calculated; to establish and authorize the
creation of a Contract Appeals Board; to establish the terms and qualifications for
Contract Appeals Board members; to establish the jurisdiction of the Contract Appeals
Board; to authorize a contractor to appeal contracting officer decisions and the procedure
for doing so; to authorize appeals of Contract Appeals Board decisions; to authorize
Contract Appeals Board members to administer oaths, authorize deposition and
discovery procedures, and issue subpoenas; to establish the finality of Contract Appeals
Board decisions in the event of subsequent judicial review; to establish protest
procedures for the contest of a solicitation or award of a contract; to require that District
employees involved in procurements be subject to the District of Columbia
Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978; to authorize electronic transactions for
procurement solicitations or auctions or procurement systems; to authorize issuance of
electronic solicitations and responses; to establish a procurement transparency Internet
site; to provide for the purchase of environmental preferable products and services to the
maximum extent practicable; to authorize the usage of reverse and standard auctions; to
authorize the participation, sponsoring or administering of cooperative purchasing
agreements; to establish the District of Columbia Supply Schedule, under which
contracts may be awarded to certified business enterprises; to authorize the payment of
stipends by the Chief Procurement Officer to defray bid or proposal development costs;
to establish the District of Columbia Supply Schedule, Purchase Card, and Training
Fund; to establish procedures and requirements relating to contract privatization; to
provide rulemaking authority; to amend the District of Columbia Procurement Practices
Act of 1985 to repeal provisions which are superseded by this act; to repeal the
Excellence in Local Business Contract Grading act of 2008; and to provide for transition
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and continuation regarding existing rules, contracts, and other actions taken under
current law.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
act may be cited as the “Procurement Practices Reform Act of 2010”.
TITLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
Sec. 101. Purposes and policies.
(a) This act shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes
and policies.
(b) In enacting this act, the Council supports the following statutory purposes:
(1) To simplify, clarify, and modernize the law governing the procurement of
goods, services, and construction items by the District government;
(2) To foster effective and equitably broad-based competition in the District by
supporting the free enterprise system and the certified business enterprise program as set forth in
the Small, Local, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of
2005, effective October 20, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-33; D.C. Official Code § 2-218.01 et seq.), and
its implementing rules;
(3) To obtain full and open competition by providing that contractors are given
adequate opportunities to bid;
(4) To ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all persons who deal with the
procurement system of the District government;
(5) To increase public confidence in the procedures followed in public
procurement;
(6) To promote efficiency and eliminate duplication in the District government
procurement organization and operation to reduce costs;
(7) To provide increased economy in procurement activities and maximize, to
the fullest extent practicable, the purchasing power of the District government;
(8) To permit the continued development of procurement laws, policies, and
practices;
(9) To provide for timely, effective, and efficient service to District agencies and
individuals doing business with the District government;
(10) To promote the development of uniform procurement procedures District
government-wide;
(11) To improve the understanding of procurement laws and policies within the
District government by organizations and individuals doing business with the District
government; and
(12) To promote, to the maximum extent feasible, the purchase of
environmentally preferable products and services.
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Sec. 102. Supplementary general principles of law applicable.
Unless superseded by the particular provisions of this act, the principles of law and
equity, including Subtitle I of Title 28 of the District of Columbia Official Code, and laws
relative to capacity to contract, agency, fraud, misrepresentation, duress, coercion, mistake, or
bankruptcy, shall supplement the provisions of this act.
Sec. 103. Obligation of good faith.
Every contract or duty within this act imposes an obligation of good faith in its
performance or enforcement. For purposes of this act, the term “good faith” means honesty in
fact in the conduct or transaction concerned and the observance of reasonable commercial
standards of fair dealing.
Sec. 104. Definitions.
For the purposes of this act, the term:
(1) “Affiliate” means any business in which:
(A) A suspended or debarred person is an officer or has a substantial
financial interest and any business that has a substantial direct or indirect ownership interest in
the suspended or debarred business; or
(B) A suspended or debarred business has a substantial direct or indirect
ownership interest.
(2) “Agency” means any agency, employee, or instrumentality of the District
government.
(3) “Architectural and engineering services” means:
(A) Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature:
(i) Which are required to be performed or approved by a person
licensed, registered, or certified to provide the services as described in this paragraph; or
(ii) Performed by contract that are associated with research,
planning, development, design, construction, alteration, or repair of real property.
(B) Other professional services of an architectural or engineering nature,
or incidental services, which members of the architectural and engineering professions (and
individuals in their employ) may logically or justifiably perform, including studies,
investigations, surveying, mapping, tests, evaluations, consultations, comprehensive planning,
program management, conceptual designs, plans and specifications, value engineering,
construction phase services, soils engineering, drawing reviews, preparation of operating and
maintenance manuals, and other related services.
(4) “Bid bond” means a form of security assuring that the bidder will not
withdraw a bid within the period specified for acceptance and will execute a written contract
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within the time specified in the bid.
(5) “Bid price” means the dollar value of a price offering submitted in response
to an Invitation for Bids.
(6) “Bidder” means any person who submits a price offering in response to an
Invitation for Bids.
(7) “Bond” means a written instrument executed by a contractor (principal) and
a second party (surety) to assure fulfillment of the contractor's obligations to a third party
(obligee or the District). If the principal's obligations are not met, the bond assures payment, to
the extent stipulated, of any loss sustained by the obligee.
(8) “Business” means any corporation, partnership, individual, sole
proprietorship, joint stock company, joint venture, or any other legal entity through which
business is conducted.
(9) “Change order” means a written order signed by the contracting officer,
directing the contractor to make changes which the changes clause of the contract authorizes the
contracting officer to order without the consent of the contractor.
(10) “Chief Financial Officer” or “CFO” means the Chief Financial Officer of
the District of Columbia.
(11) “Chief Procurement Officer” or “CPO” means the director of the Office of
Contracting and Procurement established by section 201.
(12) “Competitive sealed proposals” means a process which includes the
submission of written technical and price proposals from one or more offerors and a written
evaluation of each proposal in accordance with evaluation criteria which consider price, quality
of the items, performance, and other relevant factors.
(13) “Construction” means the process of building, altering, repairing,
improving, or demolishing any public infrastructure facility, including any public structure,
public building, or other public improvements of any kind to real property. The term
“construction” shall not include the routine operation, routine repair, or routine maintenance of
an existing public infrastructure facility, including structures, buildings, or real property.
(14) “Construction management at-risk” means a project delivery method in
which the purchasing agency awards a construction management services contract for a project
to a single firm, based on qualifications, and under which contract the construction manager
shall deliver the project within the GMP.
(15) “Contract modification” means any written alteration in the specifications,
delivery point, rate of delivery, contract period, price, quantity, or other contract provisions of
any existing contract, whether accomplished by unilateral action in accordance with a contract
provision, or by mutual action of the parties to the contract.
(16) “Contracting officer” means the Mayor, the CPO, or the CPO's designee
vested with the authority to execute contracts on behalf of the District or otherwise bind the
District in compliance with the provisions of this act.
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(17) “Contractor” means a person that enters into a contract with the District.
(18) “Cooperative purchasing” means a procurement conducted by the District
government with, or on behalf of, any government or public entity, including a state, county, or
municipal jurisdiction or the Federal government.
(19) “Cost-plus incentive fee contract” means a type of contract that specifies a
target cost, a target fee, minimum and maximum fees, and a fee adjustment formula.
(20) “Cost-reimbursement contract” means a contract under which the District
reimburses the contractor for those contract costs, within a stated ceiling, which are recognized
as allowable and allocated in accordance with cost principles, and a fee, if any.
(21) “Default Environmental Preference Standard” shall mean materials,
supplies, services, or commodities that:
(A) Are available through the most current version of the GSA
Environmental Specialty Category; or
(B) Meet or exceed applicable performance standards or requirements of:
(i) The Federal Energy Management Program;
(ii) The Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool
Bronze rating;
(iii) The U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR program;
(iv) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines; or
(v) Verification of a project under the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design green building rating systems designed by the United States Green
Building Council.
(22) “Definitive contract” means the contract executed pursuant to the letter
contract commitment.
(23) “Design-bid-build” means a project delivery method in which the
purchasing agency sequentially awards separate contracts, the 1
st
for architectural and
engineering services to design the project and the 2
nd
for construction of the project according to
the design.
(24) “Design-build” means a project delivery method in which the purchasing
agency enters into a single contract for design and construction of an infrastructure facility.
(25) “Design-build-finance-operate-maintain” means a project delivery method
in which:
(A) The purchasing agency enters into a single contract for design,
construction, finance, maintenance, and operation of an infrastructure facility over a
contractually defined period; and
(B) No District funds are appropriated to pay for any part of the services
provided by the contractor during the contract period.
(26) “Design-build-operate-maintain” means a project delivery method in
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which:
(A) The purchasing agency enters into a single contract for design,
construction, maintenance, and operation of an infrastructure facility over a contractually
defined period; and
(B) All or a portion of the funds required to pay for the services provided
by the contractor during the contract period are:
(i) Either appropriated by the District prior to award of the
contract; or
(ii) Generated by the District through fare, toll, or user charges.
(27)(A) “Design requirements” means the written description of the
infrastructure facility or service to be procured under this act, including:
(i) Required features, functions, characteristics, qualities, and
properties that are required by the District;
(ii) The anticipated schedule, including start, duration, and
completion; and
(iii) Estimated budgets (as applicable to the specific
procurement) for design, construction, operation and maintenance.
(B) The written description may, but need not, include drawings and
other documents illustrating the scale and relationship of the features, functions, and
characteristics of the infrastructure facility or service.
(28) “Determinations and findings” means a form of written approval and
detailed explanation as a prerequisite to taking certain contract actions, including the rationale
for the method of procurement, the selection of contract type, contractor selection, and the basis
for contract price.
(29) “District of Columbia Supply Schedule” or “DCSS” means the District of
Columbia's multiple award schedule or other procurement program under which contracts may
be awarded to certified business enterprises, as defined in section 2302(1B) of the Small, Local,
and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of 2005, effective
October 20, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-33; D.C. Official Code § 2-218.02(1B)), providing goods,
services, or construction to District government agencies.
(30) “Environmentally Preferable Product or Service” or “EPPS” means a good
or service that is less harmful to human health and the environment when compared with
competing goods or services that serve the same purpose. The factors to be compared include
raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation,
maintenance, or disposal of the product.
(31) “Evaluated bid price” means the dollar amount of a bid after bid price
adjustments are made under objective measurable criteria, set forth in the Invitation for Bid,
which affect the economy and effectiveness in the operation or use of the product, including the
reliability, maintainability, useful life, and residual value.
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(32) “Fixed-price contract” means a contract where the price is not subject to
any adjustment on the basis of the contractor’s cost experience in the performance of the
contract.
(33) “Fixed-price incentive contract” means a contract that:
(A) Provides for adjusting profit; and
(B) Subject to a ceiling, establishes the final contract price by a formula
based on the relationship of final negotiated price to total target cost.
(34) “Fully allocated cost” means the total direct and indirect costs of providing
a good, service, or function. The term “fully allocated cost” includes:
(A) Direct personal services costs, including wages, salaries, and fringe
benefits;
(B) Non-personal services costs including materials, goods, equipment,
maintenance and repairs, utilities, insurance, travel, and capital and equipment depreciation
cost; and
(C) General and administrative overhead.
(35) “Goods” means all personal property, tangible or intangible.
(36) “Guaranteed Maximum Price” or “GMP” means an amount beyond which
the District government is not obligated to compensate a contractor.
(37) “Human care agreement” means a written agreement for the procurement of
education, special education, health, human, or social services, pursuant to section 406, to be
provided directly to individuals who have disabilities or are disadvantaged, displaced, elderly,
indigent, mentally ill, physically ill, unemployed, or minors in the custody of the District.
(38) “Invitation for Bids” means all documents, including documents attached or
incorporated by reference, used for soliciting bids pursuant to section 402.
(39) “Letter contract” means a written preliminary contractual instrument that
authorizes the contractor to begin immediately manufacturing or delivering goods or performing
services prior to the execution of a definitive contract.
(40) “Machine-readable and searchable” means electronic text that is stored as
strings of characters and that can be displayed in a variety of formats.
(41) “Negotiation” means discussions to determine the terms and conditions of a
contract or procurement.
(42) “OCP” means the Office of Contracting and Procurement established by
section 201.
(43) “Offeror” means any person who submits a technical and price proposal in
response to a Request For Proposals or a response to a Request For Qualifications.
(44) “Operations and maintenance” means a project delivery method whereby
the purchasing agency enters into a single contract for the routine operation, routine repair, and
routine maintenance of an infrastructure facility.
(45) “Payment bond” means a bond to assure payment to all persons supplying
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labor or material in the performance of the work provided in the contract.
(46) “Performance bond” means a bond to secure performance and fulfillment of
the contractor’s obligations under the contract.
(47) “Privatization contract” means a contract by which the District government
enters into an agreement with a person who is not part of the District government to provide a
good or service to or on behalf of the District government that is being provided by a District
government agency or instrumentality.
(48) “Procurement” means buying, purchasing, renting, leasing, or otherwise
acquiring any goods, services, or construction.
(49) “Proposal development” means documents, drawings, and other design-
related documents that are sufficient to fix and describe the size and character of an
infrastructure facility as to architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems,
materials, and other elements as may be appropriate to the applicable project delivery method.
(50) “Public notice” means the distribution or dissemination of information to
interested parties using methods that are reasonably available. Methods may include publication
in newspapers, electronic or paper mailing lists, and websites designated by the District;
provided, that competitive sealed bids pursuant to section 402 and competitive sealed proposals
pursuant to section 403 for any solicitation in excess of $250,000 shall include publication in a
newspaper of general circulation and in trade publications considered to be appropriate by the
CPO to give adequate public notice.
(51) “Purchase Card Program” means the credit card program under which
agencies are authorized to make purchases for goods or services.
(52) “Request for Proposals” or “RFP” means all documents, whether attached
or incorporated by reference, used for soliciting proposals pursuant to section 403.
(53) “Request for Qualifications” or “RFQ” means a written document inviting
prospective contractors to submit a statement of their qualifications to provide certain goods or
services.
(54) “Reverse auction” means an online procurement method whereby pre-
qualified suppliers compete with one another to provide a good or service, typically
commodities, to a buyer or group of buyers.
(55) “Responsible” or “responsibility” means that a prospective contractor has
been determined, under section 302, to have the necessary capacity to perform in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the contract.
(56) “Responsive bidder or offeror” means a person who has submitted a bid or
offer which conforms in all material respects to the solicitation.
(57) “Sanitize” means the process of removing data from a media source before
the item is reused in an environment that does not provide an acceptable level of protection for
the data.
(58) “Services” means the furnishing of labor, time, or effort by a contractor not
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involving the delivery of a specific end product other than reports which are merely incidental to
the required performance. The term “services” shall not include the furnishing of time, labor, or
effort pursuant to employment agreements or collective bargaining agreements.
(59) “Sole source” means that a single source in a competitive marketplace can
fulfill the specifications of a contract.
(60) “Source selection” means the process of soliciting a bidder or offeror for
the awarding of a contract and the subsequent evaluative process, based on established award
criteria, delineated in the solicitation document.
(61) “Special education services” means the services defined in 34 C.F.R.
§ 300.24.
(62) “Specification” means any description of physical or functional
characteristics or of the nature of a good, service, or construction item. The term “specification”
includes a description of any requirement for inspecting, testing, or preparing a good, service, or
construction item for delivery.
(63) “Statement of qualifications” means a written document, submitted to OCP
by a prospective contractor wishing to obtain a District government contract, which sets forth
the prospective contractor’s qualifications as requested by the CPO.
(64) “Surety” means a business legally liable for the debt, default, or failure of a
principal to satisfy a contractual obligation.
(65) “Surplus goods” means any goods no longer having any use to the District.
The term “surplus goods” includes obsolete goods, scrap materials, and nonexpendable goods
that have completed their useful life cycle.
(66) “Surplus Property Fund” means the District of Columbia Surplus Property
Sales Revolving Fund established by section 804.
(67) “Term contract” means a contract established for a period of time for bulk
purchase of goods commonly used by the District.
(68) “Voucher” means a written authorization to a human care agreement
service provider to provide the services authorized in the agreement to an individual identified
in the agreement.
(69) “Written” or “in writing” means the product of any method of forming
characters on paper, other materials, or viewable screens, which can be read, retrieved, and
reproduced, including information that is electronically transmitted and stored, other electronic
media, and digital files.
Sec. 105. Application; exemptions.
(a) Except as provided in this section, this act shall apply to all subordinate agencies,
instrumentalities, and employees of the District government, independent agencies, boards, and
commissions.
(b) Only sections 102, 103, 104, and titles III, IV, V, VII, IX, X, XI, and XII shall apply
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to the Council. The duties of the CPO shall be exercised by the Council for the purposes of the
application of those sections and titles to the Council. Notwithstanding section 201, the Mayor
or the CPO shall not have the authority to monitor, review, or establish standards, procedures,
regulations, or rules for contracts or procurements of the Council, unless authorized by the
Council.
(c) This act shall not apply to:
(1) The acquisition, disposition, or transfer of a real property asset or interest in
a real property asset by lease, purchase, sale, or other method;
(2) A transaction pursuant to the District of Columbia Public Space Rental Act,
approved October 17, 1968 (82 Stat. 1156; D.C. Official Code § 10-1101.01 et seq.);
(3) The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency;
(4) The District of Columbia courts;
(5) The District Public Defender Service;
(6) The District of Columbia Advisory Neighborhood Commissions;
(7) The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority;
(8) The Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization;
(9) The Washington Convention and Sports Authority;
(10) The District of Columbia Auditor;
(11) The Not-for-Profit Hospital Corporation; and
(12) A contract or agreement receiving or making grants or loans or for federal
financial assistance.
TITLE II. PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATION.
Sec. 201. Office of Contracting and Procurement; authority.
(a)(1) There is established as an independent agency the Office of Contracting and
Procurement, which shall be administered by the Chief Procurement Officer. Except as
otherwise provided in this act, OCP, through the CPO, shall have the exclusive authority to
administer the provisions of this act.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, until October 1, 2013, the
Police and Firefighter’s Retirement and Relief Board, through its chief procurement officers,
shall exercise the duties of the CPO.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, until October 1, 2015, the
following agencies, through their chief procurement officers, shall exercise the duties of the
CPO for their respective agencies:
(A) The Department of Disability Services; and
(B) The Department of Mental Health, if a court order no longer requires
the agency to be exempt from the CPO’s authority.
(4) The CPO may delegate contracting authority to employees of an agency,
including OCP, or another instrumentality.
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(5) Agencies and instrumentalities subject to this act shall determine their
requirements for goods and services and administering awarded contracts.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the following agencies shall not be
subject to the authority of the CPO, but shall conduct procurements in accordance with the
provisions of this act:
(1) The Office of the Chief Financial Officer;
(2) The University of the District of Columbia;
(3) The District of Columbia Housing Authority;
(4) The District of Columbia Public Library;
(5) The District of Columbia Public Schools;
(6) The Child and Family Services Agency, until such time as a court order no
longer requires the agency to be exempt from the CPO’s authority;
(7) The District of Columbia Retirement Board;
(8) The Public Service Commission;
(9) The Office of the People’s Counsel; and
(10) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
(c) The Office of the Attorney General and the Inspector General may contract for the
services of accountants, lawyers, and other experts when they determine and state in writing that
good reason exists why the services should be procured independently of the Chief Procurement
Officer.
(d) Except regarding agencies exempted in sections 105(c) and 201(b) and roads and
bridges, the Department of Real Estate Services shall have procurement authority for
construction and related services under Title VI.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in section 105(b), the CPO may review and monitor
procurements by any agency, instrumentality, employee, or official exempt under this act or
authorized to procure independently of OCP.
(f) The CPO may conduct procurements and award contracts on behalf of any agency
exempt under this act or authorized to procure independently of OCP, when requested by the
agency to do so. In conducting procurements or awarding contracts, the CPO shall comply with
the requirements of this act.
Sec. 202. Criteria for Council review of multiyear contracts and contracts in excess of
$1 million.
(a) Pursuant to section 451 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved
December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 803; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.51), prior to the award of a
multiyear contract or a contract in excess of $1 million during a 12-month period, the Mayor or
executive independent agency or instrumentality shall submit the proposed contract to the
Council for review and approval in accordance with the criteria established in this section.
(b)(1) A proposed multiyear contract shall be deemed disapproved by the Council
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unless, during the 45-calendar-day review period beginning on the 1
st
day (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and holidays) following its receipt by the Office of the Secretary to the Council, the
Council adopts a resolution to approve the proposed multiyear contract.
(2) A proposed contract in excess of $1 million during a 12-month period shall
be deemed approved by the Council if one of the following occurs:
(A) During the 10-day period beginning on the 1
st
day (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) following its receipt by the Office of the Secretary to the
Council, no member of the Council introduces a resolution to approve or disapprove the
proposed contract; or
(B) If a resolution has been introduced in accordance with subparagraph
(A) of this paragraph, and the Council does not disapprove the contract during the 45-day
review period beginning on the 1
st
day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) following
its receipt by the Office of the Secretary to the Council.
(3)(A) Council approval of contracts submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of this
subsection shall expire 12 months after the award of the contract.
(B)(i) Council approval of a contract containing a provision that grants to
the District the option of continuing or amending the contract beyond the 12-month period of
Council approval shall not constitute Council approval of the exercise of the option contract.
(ii) To exercise an option that meets the criteria for Council
review pursuant to this section, the Mayor shall submit the option contract to the Council
pursuant to this section.
(iii) The exercise of an option that meets the criteria for Council
review under this subsection without Council review of the option contract is a violation of this
section and of section 451 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24,
1973 (87 Stat. 803; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.51).
(c) Proposed contracts submitted pursuant to this section may be submitted
electronically and shall contain a summary, including the following:
(1) The proposed contractor, contract amount, unit and method of compensation,
contract term, and type of contract;
(2) The goods or services to be provided, the methods of delivering goods or
services, and any significant program changes reflected in the proposed contract;
(3) The selection process, including the number of offerors, the evaluation
criteria, and the evaluation results, including price and technical components;
(4) The background and qualifications of the proposed contractor, including its
organization, financial stability, personnel, and prior performance on contracts with the District
government;
(5) Performance standards and expected outcomes of the proposed contract;
(6) A certification that the proposed contract is within the appropriated budget
authority for the agency for the fiscal year and is consistent with the financial plan and budget
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adopted in accordance with D.C. Official Code §§ 47-392.01 and 47-392.02;
(7) A certification that the proposed contract is legally sufficient, including
whether the proposed contractor has any currently pending legal claims against the District;
(8) A certification that the proposed contractor is current with its District and
federal taxes or has worked out and is current with a payment schedule approved by the District
or federal government;
(9) The status of the proposed contractor as a certified local, small, or
disadvantaged business enterprise, as defined in the Small, Local, and Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of 2005, effective October 20, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-
33; D.C. Official Code § 2-218.01 et seq.);
(10) Other aspects of the proposed contract that the CPO considers significant;
(11) A statement indicating whether the proposed contractor is currently
debarred from providing services or goods to the District or federal government, the dates of the
debarment, and the reasons for debarment; and
(12) Where the contract, if executed, will be made available online.
(d) No proposed multiyear contract and no proposed contract in excess of $1 million for
a 12-month period shall be awarded until after the Council has reviewed and approved the
proposed contract as provided in this section.
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, review and approval by the Council
of a definitive contract in excess of $1 million during a 12-month period shall constitute the
Council review and approval, required by section 451(b) of the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 803; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.51(b)), of the
definitive contract and the merged letter contract contained therein.
(f) Any employee or agency head who shall knowingly or willfully enter into a proposed
multiyear contract or a proposed contract in excess of $1 million without prior Council review
and approval in accordance with this section shall be subject to suspension, dismissal, or other
disciplinary action under the procedures set forth in Title XVI-A of the District of Columbia
Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective June 10, 1998 (D.C. Law
12-124; D.C. Official Code § 1-616.51 et seq.).
(g)(1) No contractor who knowingly or willfully performs on a contract with the District
in excess of $1 million for a 12-month period without prior Council approval shall be paid more
than $1 million for the products or services provided.
(2) No contractor who knowingly or willfully performs on a multiyear contract
with the District without prior Council approval of the multiyear contract shall be paid in more
than one calendar year for the products or services provided.
(h) Review and approval by the Council of the annual capital program of federal
highway aid projects shall constitute the Council review and approval required by section
451(d)(3) of the Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 803; D.C. Official
Code § 1-204.51(d)(3)), of individual federal-aid highway contracts that make up the annual
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program.
Sec. 203. Office of Contracting and Procurement.
(a) The agency head of the Office of Contracting and Procurement shall be the Chief
Procurement Officer.
(b) The CPO shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the
Council pursuant to the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-142;
D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01).
(c) On the effective date of this act, the incumbent CPO shall continue to serve as the
CPO. If the incumbent CPO is unable to serve as the CPO, until a new CPO is appointed by the
Mayor pursuant to the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-142;
D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), the highest ranking employee of OCP shall serve as acting
CPO.
(d) The CPO shall have not less than 5 years of senior-level experience in procurement
and shall have demonstrated, through knowledge and experience, the ability to administer a
public procurement system of the size and complexity of the program established by this act.
(e) The CPO shall serve for one 5-year term and may be reappointed pursuant to
subsection (b) of this section.
(f) The CPO shall not be removed from office before the expiration of the 5-year term
except for cause, subject to the right of appeal as provided in Title VI of the District of
Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979
(D.C. Law 2-139; D.C. Official Code § 1-606.01 et seq.).
Sec. 204. Duties of the Chief Procurement Officer.
(a) The Chief Procurement Officer shall be the chief procurement official of the
District.
(b) The CPO shall have the following authority and responsibility:
(1) To serve as the central procurement and contracting officer for the District;
(2) To identify gaps, omissions, or inconsistencies in procurement laws, rules,
and policies, or in laws, rules and policies affecting procurement-related activities, and to
recommend changes to laws, rules, and procedures;
(3) To provide overall leadership in the implementation of procurement rules,
coordinate all procurement activities of the District government in accordance with the
provisions of the act, and develop a system of unified and simplified procurement procedures
and forms.
(4) To prepare and issue standard specifications for goods, services, and
construction required by the District government;
(5) To establish a standardization program for goods and services when it is
determined to be in the best interests of the District;
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(6) To review, monitor, and audit the procurement activities of the District;
(7) To prepare, establish, and implement a periodic review process for the
evaluation of contractors who provide goods or services to the District;
(8) To identify and assess trends and developments in the field of government
contracting, including identifying best practices and innovation opportunities for the District;
(9) To operate and maintain an electronic procurement system;
(10) To sell, trade, or otherwise dispose of surplus goods belonging to the
District government;
(11) To establish procedures for the inspection, testing, and acceptance of goods,
services, and construction;
(12) To develop guidelines for the recruitment, training, career development,
and performance evaluation of all procurement personnel;
(13) To staff OCP with procurement professionals, including attorneys,
dedicated to the formation and administration of contracts on behalf of the entities covered by
this act;
(14) To create and maintain a transparent Internet site, accessible to the public,
providing information on solicitations, contracts, and related laws, rules, and policies;
(15) To promote to the purchase of environmentally preferable products and
services; and
(16) To establish certification requirements for contracting personnel.
Sec. 205. Privatization contracts and procedures requirements.
(a) Before issuing a solicitation for a privatization contract pursuant to this section, the
District government agency on whose behalf the solicitation will be issued shall prepare an
estimate of the fully allocated cost associated with providing the relevant goods or services
using District government employees. The agency shall transmit this estimate to the contract
specialist responsible for the solicitation, who shall retain the estimate as part of the official
contract file.
(b) A solicitation for a proposed privatization contract issued pursuant to this section
shall include information describing how current District government employees may exercise
the right to bid on the contracts.
(c) Before awarding a privatization contract, and prior to modifying a contract, the
Mayor, instrumentality, or independent agency head shall transmit to the Council a
determination and findings that:
(1) Compares the current fully allocated cost of providing the services using
District government employees, departments, or agencies, using the estimate described in
subsection (a) of this section, to the fully allocated costs associated with contracting for the
service;
(2) Demonstrates that the privatization contract will provide savings of at least
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5% over the duration of the contract in terms of total cost or the unit cost of providing the goods
or services;
(3) Describes the expected impact of the privatization contract on the quality of
goods or services provided to or on behalf of the District government, including performance
targets and requirements for the contractor; and
(4) Includes a written confirmation of review by officials, including the Chief
Financial Officer, the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, and the CPO.
(d) A privatization contract, or any contracting policies and procedures relating to these
contracts, to provide goods and services to or on behalf of the District government, including a
contract resulting from a process of managed competition, shall provide that:
(1) The Mayor, instrumentality, or independent agency head shall complete the
determination and findings described in subsection (c) of this section and transmit the
determination and findings to the Council prior to the award of the contract;
(2) A contractor who is awarded a contract that displaces District government
employees shall offer to the displaced employee a right of first refusal to employment by the
contractor, in a comparable available position for which the employee is qualified, for at least a
6-month period during which the employee shall not be discharged without cause;
(3) Any District employee who is displaced as a result of a privatization
contract, and is hired by the contractor who was awarded the privatization contract, shall be
entitled to the benefits provided by the Service Contract Act of 1965, approved October 22,
1965 (79 Stat. 1034; 41 U.S.C. § 351 et seq.);
(4) If the employee's performance during the 6-month transitional employment
period described in paragraph (2) of this subsection is satisfactory, the contractor shall offer the
employee continued employment under terms and conditions established by the contractor;
(5) The privatization contract shall incorporate specific performance criteria and
the contractor shall submit reports, as required by the contract, to the District government
contracting officer and the Chief Financial Officer on the contractor's compliance with the
specific performance criteria; and
(6) The privatization contract may be canceled if the contractor fails to comply
with the performance criteria set out in the contract.
(e) If a privatization contract is awarded, the Mayor, instrumentality, or the independent
agency head shall make efforts to assist affected District government employees and to promote
employment opportunities for District residents with the contractor. These efforts shall include:
(1) Consulting with union representatives and District government employees
who would be affected by the privatization contract;
(2) Providing prior notification of at least 30 days of any adverse impact of a
privatization contract to District government employees who would be affected by the contract,
including notification to a labor organization certified as the exclusive representative of
employees affected by the contract;
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(3) Providing alternative employment in the District government to displaced
District government employees if there are unfilled positions for which those employees are
qualified; and
(4) Encouraging the contractor to offer employment to qualified District
residents before offering employment to qualified nonresidents.
(f) An agency shall not attempt to circumvent the requirements of this section by
eliminating the provision of goods or services by the agency before procuring substantially the
same goods or services from a person who is not part of the District government.
Sec. 206. Procurement training institute.
(a) The CPO shall establish and administer a procurement training institute to facilitate
a system of training, continuing education, and certification for District contracting personnel.
The procurement training institute may:
(1) Conduct or participate in procurement education and training programs for
District employees and others, including persons not employed by the District;
(2) Conduct, develop, or collaborate with established training or certification
programs for the express purpose of providing certifications of proficiency to all participants
who successfully complete the designated programs;
(3) Conduct research into existing and new methods of procurement;
(4) Establish and maintain a District procurement library; and
(5)(A) Establish a tiered core curriculum that sets forth the minimum
procurement-related training courses to be completed by District procurement personnel.
(B) The tiered core curriculum shall be designed to develop procurement
competency along with a uniform training approach for personnel ranging from entry level
contract specialist to contracting officer.
(b) The CPO may charge a fee for training conducted by the procurement training
institute in accordance with section 1103.
(c) The CPO shall require that District contracting personnel be certified and that they
maintain a reasonable number of hours of continuing education to maintain their certification.
(d) The CPO may allow attendance at a recognized institute to satisfy the certification
requirement and the number of hours for continuing education.
TITLE III. CONTRACTOR STANDARDS.
Sec. 301. Contractor standards.
The CPO shall establish a process to certify, on a solicitation-by-solicitation basis, the
responsibility of prospective contractors. The process shall ensure that the prospective
contractor:
(1) Has adequate financial resources to perform the contract or the ability to
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obtain those resources;
(2) Is able to comply with the required or proposed delivery or performance
schedule, based upon the bidder's or offeror’s existing commercial and government contract
commitments;
(3) Has a satisfactory performance record;
(4) Has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics;
(5) Has a satisfactory record of compliance with the law, including labor and
civil rights laws and rules and the First Source Employment Agreement Act of 1984, effective
June 29, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-93; D.C. Official Code § 2-219.01 et seq.);
(6) Has, or has the ability to obtain, the necessary organization, experience,
accounting, operational control, and technical skills;
(7) Has, or has the ability to obtain, the necessary production, construction,
technical equipment, and facilities;
(8) Has not exhibited a pattern of overcharging the District;
(9) Does not have an outstanding debt with the District or the federal
government in a delinquent status; and
(10) Is otherwise qualified and is eligible to receive an award under applicable
laws and rules.
Sec. 302. Determination of contractor responsibility.
(a) Prior to awarding a contract, the District shall make a determination, in accordance
with the process established under section 301, that the prospective contractor has the necessary
capacity to perform in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
(b) For all contracts to exceed $100,000, a potential contractor shall complete and
submit with its bid or offer a certification developed by OCP to provide information needed to
determine if a prospective contractor is responsible. The certification shall be signed under the
penalty of perjury.
(c) After the contract is awarded, if the District learns that the contractor certified false
information, the District may terminate the contract. The contractor shall update its responses in
the certification during the term of the contract within 60 days of a material change in a
response to its prior questionnaire and prior to the exercise of an option year contract. The
District may consider failure of the contractor to update the certification with this information as
material breach of the contract and invoke remedies pursuant to the provisions of this act.
Information within the certification may be made available to the public, except to the extent
that any information is exempt from disclosure.
(d) A determination by the CPO that a prospective contractor is non-responsible shall be
final. The determination of non-responsibility shall not be overturned unless arbitrary or
capricious.
(e) Upon determining that a prospective contractor is non-responsible, the CPO shall
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consider whether the contractor should be suspended or debarred pursuant to the procedure and
criteria of section 907.
(f) Contractors shall ensure that their subcontractors meet the criteria for responsibility
pursuant to section 301.
(g) Information about a prospective or current contractor relevant to a contractor’s
responsibility, or lack thereof, may be submitted for consideration to the CPO by a member of
the general public.
TITLE IV. SOURCE SELECTION AND CONTRACT FORMATION.
Sec. 401. Source selection methods.
(a)(1) Except as otherwise authorized by law, all District government contracts shall be
awarded by:
(A) Competitive sealed bidding pursuant to section 402;
(B) Competitive sealed proposals pursuant to section 403;
(C) Sole source procurements pursuant to section 404;
(D) Emergency procurements pursuant to section 405;
(E) Human care procurements pursuant to section 406;
(F) Small purchase procurements pursuant to section 407;
(G) Special pilot procurements pursuant to section 408;
(H) Reverse auctions pursuant to section 409;
(I) Procurements through a General Services Administration schedule
pursuant to section 410;
(J) Cooperative agreements pursuant to section 411;
(K) Procurements through the DCSS pursuant to section 412; or
(L) Infrastructure facilities and services pursuant to Title VI.
(2) The CPO shall publish annually on the Internet a report on the number of and
dollar value of contracts executed under each source selection method.
(b)(1) Except for members of a technical advisory group, a District employee or official
shall not attempt to influence a procurement professional with respect to source selection;
provided, that an employee or official may attempt to prevent a procurement professional from
violating law or rules.
(2) Any employee or official who violates this section shall be subject to
suspension, dismissal, or other disciplinary action under the procedures pursuant to Title XVI-A
of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, approved
June 10, 1998 (D.C. Law 12-124; D.C. Official Code § 1-616.51 et seq.).
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Sec. 402. Competitive sealed bids.
(a) Contracts exceeding $100,000 shall be awarded by competitive sealed bidding
unless the CPO issues a determination and findings that use of competitive sealed bidding is not
practicable or not in the best interests of the District.
(b) Bids shall be solicited through an Invitation for Bids.
(c) The Invitation for Bids may include special standards of responsibility to ensure that
bidders are properly qualified to perform the work.
(d) The Invitation for Bids shall state whether an award shall be made on the basis of
the lowest bid price or the lowest evaluated bid price. If the lowest evaluated bid price basis is
used, the objective measurable criteria to be utilized shall be set forth in the Invitation for Bids.
(e)(1) The CPO shall provide public notice of the Invitation for Bids of not less than 14
days for contracts, unless the CPO issues a determination and findings that it is appropriate to
shorten the notice period to a period of not less than 3 days. In making the determination and
findings, the CPO shall consider factors including the complexity of the procurement, the type
of goods or services being purchased, and the impact of a shortened notice period on
competition.
(2)(A) The CPO shall maintain an Internet site that provides prospective
contractors with public notice of opportunities to bid, notice of contract awards, and other
relevant information about District procurements.
(B) Public notice of an Invitation for Bids may include publication in
newspapers or trade publications considered to be appropriate by the CPO to give adequate
public notice.
(f) Bids shall be opened publicly at the time and place designated in the Invitation for
Bids; provided, that the opening may be conducted in a publicly accessible electronic forum.
Each bid, with the name of the bidder and price offering contained therein, shall be recorded and
be open to public inspection.
(g) The contract shall be awarded after completion of evaluation procedures for
competitive sealed bids.
(h) Correction or withdrawal of bids shall be allowed only to the extent permitted by
rules issued pursuant to this act.
Sec. 403. Competitive sealed proposals.
(a) A contract may be entered into by competitive sealed proposal when the use of
competitive sealed bidding is not practicable or not advantageous to the District.
(b) Proposals shall be solicited from the maximum number of qualified sources and in a
manner consistent with the nature of, and the need for, the goods, services, or construction being
acquired.
(c) Proposals shall be solicited through a request for proposals. The CPO shall provide
public notice of the RFP of not less than 21 days, unless the CPO issues a determination and
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findings that it is appropriate to shorten the notice period to a period of not less than 14 days. In
making the determination and findings, the CPO shall consider factors including the complexity
of the procurement, the type of goods or services being purchased, and the impact of a shortened
notice period on competition.
(d)(1) An RFP shall set forth each evaluation factor and indicate the relative importance
of each evaluation factor. Price shall be included as an evaluation factor.
(2) Each RFP shall include a statement of work or other description of
the District's specific needs, which shall be used as a basis for the evaluation of proposals.
(e) The contract shall be awarded by written notice to the responsive and responsible
bidder whose bid will be most advantageous to the District.
(f)(1) The contracting officer may issue an RFQ before an RFP if the CPO makes a
determination and findings that proceeding with an RFQ process would be advantageous to the
District and that establishes a reasonable price range for the procurement.
(2) The RFQ shall include a description of the statement of work to be solicited
by the RFP, the deadline for submission of information, and how prospective offerors may
apply for consideration. The RFQ shall require information only on the prospective contractor’s
qualifications, experience, and ability to perform the requirements of the contract.
(3) After receiving the responses to the RFQ from prospective contractors, the
contracting officer shall determine in writing the ranking of the prospective contractors from the
most qualified to the least qualified on the basis of the information provided. The contracting
officer shall then issue an RFP to at least the 3 highest-ranked prospective contractors. The
determination regarding how many proposals to solicit shall not be subject to review.
(g) Upon receiving the responses to an RFP, the contracting officer shall:
(1) Evaluate the proposals received using only the criteria stated in the RFP and
in accordance with weightings that have been provided in the RFP; and
(2) Rank the prospective contractors from most advantageous to least
advantageous to the District.
(h)(1) After ranking the prospective contractors, the contracting officer may elect to
proceed with negotiations in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection. The contracting
officer’s decision shall not be subject to review.
(2) If the contracting officer elects to proceed with negotiations, the contracting
officer shall negotiate with the highest-ranked prospective contractor on price or matters
affecting the scope of the contract, so long as the terms of the final contract are within the scope
of the request for proposals. If a satisfactory contract cannot be negotiated with the highest-
ranked prospective contractor, the contracting officer may negotiate the terms of the contract
with the 2
nd
most qualified prospective contractor or lower-ranked prospective contractors in
order of ranking until a satisfactory contract can be awarded.
(3) The contracting officer may reopen negotiations with any prospective
contractor with whom negotiations were terminated.
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(4) The contracting officer may make changes within the general scope of the
RFP but shall then provide all offerors an opportunity to submit their best and final offers.
Sec. 404. Sole source procurements.
(a) A contract may be awarded through noncompetitive negotiations when there is only
one source for the required good or service.
(b) The CPO shall make a determination and findings justifying the sole source
procurement.
(c) Notice of intent to enter into a sole source contract shall be posted on the Internet at
least 10 days prior to award. The notice shall include:
(1) The determination and findings required by subsection (b) of this section;
(2) A description of the item to be procured; and
(3) The intended sole source contractor.
(d) The contract shall be made available online within 7 days of the contract award.
Sec. 405. Emergency procurements.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, a contract may be awarded through
an emergency procurement as defined by rules:
(1) When there is an imminent threat to the public health, welfare, property, or
safety; or
(2) To prevent or minimize serious disruption in agency operations.
(b) Emergency procurements shall be made with as much competition as is practicable
under the circumstances, based on the judgment and determination of the contracting officer.
(c) The contracting officer may issue oral orders or notices to proceed to contractors to
provide services or goods to the District; provided, that the directive shall be reduced to writing
within 3 business days after issuance and funding for the services or goods provided shall be
certified by the appropriate fiscal official.
(d) Emergency procurement procedures shall not be used for contracts exceeding 90
days; provided, that if the development time for the good or service exceeds 90 days, the
contract shall not exceed 120 days.
(e) The CPO shall make a determination and findings justifying the emergency
procurement.
(f) Notice of all emergency procurements shall be made available on the Internet no
more than 7 days after the contract is awarded. The notice shall include:
(1) The determination and findings required by subsection (e) of this section;
(2) A description of the item to be procured;
(3) The designated contractor; and
(4) A copy of the contract.
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Sec. 406. Human care procurements.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, the CPO may award a human care
agreement for a human care service if the human care service to be provided is:
(1) Negotiated on a fee for service or unit-rate basis using benchmarks
and quantifiable measurements that shall be uniformly applied to providers of the same service;
(2) Purchased at rates adopted by rule; or
(3) One that an agency typically purchases as needs arise, but for which the
quantity, rate of utilization, delivery areas, or specific beneficiaries of the service cannot be
accurately estimated at the outset of the procurement process.
(b) If a human care agreement for a human care service is to be awarded, the CPO shall
publish a request for qualifications that:
(1) States the general requirements for the service; and
(2) Requests interested service providers to respond in writing with a statement
of their qualifications to perform the service on a form prescribed by the CPO.
(c) The CPO shall retain statements of qualifications submitted by providers for 3 years.
(d) The CPO may conduct negotiations for a human care agreement with any
responsible service provider who has submitted a statement of qualifications, without any
additional public notice or solicitation required, to satisfy all or part of the District's anticipated
requirements for a particular human care service.
(e) Before conducting negotiations with a service provider, the CPO shall issue a
determination and findings that the service provider is responsible in accordance with Title III.
(f) The CPO may authorize the use of vouchers to authorize the delivery of service
provided by service providers who enter into human care agreements.
(g) The CPO shall provide public notice of the award of a human care agreement
pursuant to this section on the Internet.
(h) The human care agreement shall identify the services to be rendered during the term
of the agreement and shall set forth the terms and conditions of any purchases issued pursuant to
the agreement. The contracting officer shall include in each human care agreement the
following information:
(1) A statement that the human care agreement is not a commitment to purchase
any quantity of a particular good or service covered under the agreement; and
(2) A statement that the District is obligated only to the extent that authorized
purchases are made pursuant to the human care agreement.
Sec. 407. Small purchase procurements.
(a) The CPO may establish a streamlined process for entering into contracts for goods
and services not exceeding $100,000. The process shall set forth:
(1) Requirements for basic competition, including solicitation of contracts or
orders from multiple vendors;
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(2) A noncompetitive process for entering into contracts under a dollar threshold
established by the CPO not to exceed $10,000; and
(3) Requirements that purchases be made transparent.
(b) Procurement requirements shall not be parceled, split, divided, or purchased over a
period of time to avoid the $100,000 limitation of subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The CPO shall implement standards to monitor small purchase procedures to ensure
compliance with applicable laws, rules, and policies.
Sec. 408. Special pilot procurements.
(a) The CPO may, with prior public notice and in accordance with rules issued pursuant
to this act, award a contract without competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals
if it is determined that an unusual or unique situation exists that makes the application of all
requirements of competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals not in the public
interest.
(b) A special pilot procurement under this section shall be made with as much
competition as is practicable under the circumstances.
(c) A special pilot procurement under this section shall require a determination and
findings setting forth the reasons warranting the special procurement and for the selection of the
particular contractor.
(d) The CPO shall post the notice of award and the determination and findings on the
Internet within 7 days after the execution and approval of a special pilot procurement.
(e) An unusual or unique situation justifying a special pilot procurement under this
section shall include a contract made to:
(1) Satisfy a new and unique District requirement; or
(2) Obtain a new technology.
Sec. 409. Auctions.
(a)(1) The CPO may procure goods or services through reverse auction via the Internet
when it is determined that the reverse auction bidding method is the most effective method for
the District.
(2) The CPO may place any requirement for a good or service on an established
Internet reverse auction exchange that would allow any bidder to competitively bid down the
price of that good or service over a set period of time established by the CPO.
(3) The CPO may establish an online auction for the purposes of executing
reverse auction transactions on behalf of the District.
(b)(1) The CPO may dispose of or sell surplus goods through standard auction via the
Internet.
(2) The CPO may place any surplus goods on an established standard auction
exchange on the Internet that would allow any person, excluding any employee of the disposing
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District agency, to competitively acquire surplus personal property or goods from the District.
(3) The CPO may establish a standard auction exchange on the Internet for the
purpose of executing standard auction transactions on behalf of the District government.
Sec. 410. General Services Administration schedules.
(a) The CPO may procure goods or services through a General Services Administration
schedule pursuant to 40 U.S.C. § 502(a)(3) and 40 U.S.C. § 602(c).
(b) The CPO shall ensure that the price of any contract entered into under subsection (a)
of this section is reasonable.
Sec. 411. Cooperative purchasing.
(a) The CPO may, and is encouraged to, participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer
cooperative purchasing agreements for the procurement of goods, services, or construction.
(b) Cooperative purchasing agreements entered into by the District government shall be
in accordance with, to the extent practicable, all laws and rules of the District government with
respect to contracting, and shall be consistent with laws and rules of the United States
government that apply specifically to the District.
(c) An agency shall not enter into or participate in a cooperative purchasing agreement
unless that participation is authorized by the CPO or a designee pursuant to the delegated
contracting authority in section 201.
(d) The CPO may charge and collect an administrative fee for serving as the lead
jurisdiction on a cooperative agreement and may receive any rebates or other fees for
participating in a cooperative agreement. The CPO shall deposit such fees in the District of
Columbia Supply Schedule, Purchase Card, and Training Fund established in section 1103.
Sec. 412. District of Columbia Supply Schedule.
(a) There is established a District of Columbia Supply Schedule program under which
contracts may be awarded to certified business enterprises. The DCSS program may consist of
multiple award schedules or other procurement programs established by the CPO.
(b) A DCSS contract may be awarded by:
(1) Any source selection method authorized by Title IV;
(2) A contract with a contractor who maintains a price agreement or schedule
with any federal agency so long as the contract does not authorize a price higher than is
contained in the contract between the federal agency and the contractor; or
(3) A contract with a contractor who agrees to adopt the same pricing schedule
for the same goods or services as that of a contractor who maintains a price agreement or
schedule with any federal agency if the contract does not authorize a price higher than is
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contained in the contract between the federal agency and the contractor.
(c) An agency may refuse to award a contract or procurement set aside pursuant to the
Small, Local, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of 2005,
effective October 20, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-33; D.C. Official Code § 2-218.01 et seq.), and may
thereafter issue the contract or procurement in the open market if the agency determines in
writing that the bids for the contract or procurement set aside for a small business enterprise are
believed to be 12% or more above the likely price on the open market.
Sec. 413. Competition exemptions.
Contracts for the following procurements shall be exempt from the competition
requirements established by this act:
(1) Artistic services or works of art;
(2) Commodities or contractual services if federal or District law prescribes with
whom the District must contract;
(3) Legal services or negotiation services in connection with proceedings before
administrative agencies or state or federal courts, including experts, attorneys, and mediators;
(4) Copyrighted or patented materials, including technical pamphlets, published
books, maps, and testing or instructional materials; provided, that the materials are purchased
directly from the owner of the copyright or patent;
(5) Memberships in trade or professional organizations;
(6) Entertainers;
(7) Job-related seminars and training for District employees;
(8) Maintenance and support of existing software and technology to the extent
that the creator of the intellectual property is still protected and is the only source of the
maintenance and support of the existing software and technology;
(9) Public transit farecards, passes, and tokens;
(10) Personal property or services provided by another public entity, agency, or
authority;
(11) Postage;
(12) Purchases of advertising in all media, including electronic, print, radio, and
television; provided, that they are purchased directly from the media outlet;
(13) Trade and career fairs for District employees;
(14) Special event venues and related services as dictated by the establishment;
(15) Subscriptions for periodicals and newspapers;
(16) Ticket purchases for special events, tourist attractions, and amusement
parks; and
(17) Professional development training which supports principal, teacher, and
student achievement pursuant to the District of Columbia Public Schools Master Education
Plan.
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Sec. 414. Cancellation of solicitations.
An Invitation for Bid, a Request for Proposals, or other solicitation may be cancelled if it
is determined in writing by the CPO that the action is taken in the best interests of the District
government.
Sec. 415. Collusion.
(a) A person who enters into a contract with the District after engaging in collusion with
another person for the purpose of defrauding the District shall be liable for damages equal to 3
times the value of the loss to the District attributable to the collusion.
(b) If there is a reasonable basis for believing that collusion has occurred among any
individuals or entities for the purpose of defrauding the District, the CPO shall send a written
notice of this belief to the Attorney General and to the Mayor.
(c) All documents involved in any procurement in which collusion is suspected shall be
retained until the Attorney General gives notice that they may be destroyed. All documents shall
be made available to the Attorney General.
Sec. 416. Contingent fees.
(a) A contractor shall not offer to pay any fee or other consideration that is contingent
on the making of a contract.
(b) Every contract shall contain the following prohibition against contingent fees: “The
contractor warrants that no person or selling agency has been employed or retained to solicit or
secure the contract upon an agreement or understanding for a commission, percentage,
brokerage fee, or contingent fee, except bona fide employees or bona fide established
commercial or selling agencies maintained by the contractor for the purpose of securing
business. For a breach or violation of this warranty, the District shall have the right to terminate
the contract without liability or in its discretion to deduct from the contract price or
consideration, or otherwise recover, the full amount of the commission, percentage, brokerage,
or contingent fee.
(c) A District employee shall not solicit or secure, or offer to solicit or secure, a contract
for which the employee is paid or is to be paid any fee or other consideration contingent on the
making of the contract between the employee and any other person.
Sec. 417. Confidentiality.
The CPO shall review information which has been designated as confidential or
proprietary by a person and which has been submitted in response to an Invitation for Bids or
Request for Proposals. If the CPO determines that the designation is proper, the information
shall be treated by the CPO, and any other District employee, in a confidential manner, shall be
disclosed only to District employees for use in the procurement process, and shall not be
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disclosed to other persons or parties without the prior written consent of the person, except as
provided by the Freedom of Information Act of 1976, effective March 25, 1977 (D.C. Law 1-96;
D.C. Official Code § 2-531 et seq.).
Sec. 418. Right to audit records; right to inspect.
(a) The District may, at reasonable times and places, audit the books and records of any
person who has submitted data to substantiate offered prices pursuant to section 419 to the
extent that the books and records relate to that data. A person who receives a contract, change
order, or contract modification for which the data is required, shall maintain books and records
that relate to the cost or pricing data for 3 years from the date of final payment under the
contract, unless a shorter period is otherwise authorized in writing.
(b) The Inspector General, District of Columbia Auditor, or District shall be entitled to
audit the books and records of a contractor or any subcontractor under any negotiated contract
or subcontract, other than a firm fixed-price contract, to the extent that the books and records
relate to the performance of the contract or subcontract. Books and records shall be maintained
by the contractor for a period of 3 years from the date of final payment under the prime contract
and by the subcontractor for a period of 3 years from the date of final payment under the
subcontract, unless a shorter period is otherwise authorized in writing.
(c) The Inspector General, District of Columbia Auditor, or District may, at reasonable
times, inspect the part of the place of business of a contractor or any subcontractor which is
related to the performance of any contract awarded or to be awarded by the District.
Sec. 419. Reasonable prices.
(a) A contracting officer may request factual information reasonably available to the
contractor or prospective contractor to substantiate that the price or cost offered, or some
portion of it, is reasonable.
(b) The CPO shall establish a process for determining the reasonableness of prices.
Sec. 420. Prequalification.
(a) The CPO may establish a prequalification process to certify the financial and
professional qualifications of prospective bidders and offerors for District government contracts.
The CPO may limit participation in certain procurements to prospective contractors who have
been prequalified under the process.
(b) The use of the prequalification process under this section shall not nullify the
requirement for a determination of contractor responsibility under Title III.
(c) Information about a prospective or current contractor relevant to a contractor’s
prequalification criteria may be submitted by a member of the general public to the CPO for
consideration in determining or verifying the contractor’s prequalified status.
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TITLE V. TYPES OF CONTRACTS.
Sec. 501. Cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost contract prohibited.
An agency shall not enter into a cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost contract.
Sec. 502. Cost-reimbursement contracts.
(a) A cost-reimbursement contract shall not be awarded pursuant to section 402, section
403, or section 404 unless there is a determination and findings that:
(1) The contract is likely to be less costly to the District than any other type of
contract; or
(2) It is impracticable to obtain goods or services of the kind or quality required
except under a cost-reimbursement contract.
(b) All cost-reimbursement contracts shall contain a provision that only costs
determined in writing to be reimbursable by the contracting officer, in accordance with cost
principles set forth in rules issued pursuant to this act, shall be reimbursable.
Sec. 503. Use of other types of contracts.
Subject to the limitations of this act and this title, any type of contract which will
promote the best interests of the District may be used.
Sec. 504. Multiyear contracts.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in an appropriations act, or approved pursuant to section
451 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 803;
D.C. Official Code § 1-204.51), a contract for goods or services shall not be entered into for
periods which extend beyond 12 months.
(b) Before entering into a multiyear contract, the CPO shall determine in writing that:
(1) Estimated requirements cover the period of the contract and are reasonably
firm and continuing; and
(2) The contract would serve the best interests of the District, encourage
effective competition, or otherwise promote economies in District procurement.
(c) If funds are not appropriated or otherwise made available for the continued
performance in a subsequent year of a multiyear contract, the contract for the subsequent year
shall be terminated, either automatically or in accordance with the termination clause of the
contract, if any. Unless otherwise provided for in the contract, the effect of termination shall be
to discharge both the District and the contractor from future performance of the contract, but not
from their existing obligations. The contractor shall be reimbursed for the reasonable value of
any nonrecurring costs incurred but not amortized in the price of the goods or services delivered
under the contract.
TITLE VI. PROCUREMENT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND RELATED
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SERVICES.
Sec. 601. Project delivery methods authorized.
(a) This title shall govern procurements for construction projects and related
management services in the District.
(b) The following project delivery methods are authorized for procurements within the
scope of this title:
(1) Architectural and engineering services;
(2) Construction management;
(3) Construction management at risk;
(4) Design-bid-build;
(5) Design-build;
(6) Design-build-finance-operate-maintain;
(7) Design-build-operate-maintain; and
(8) Operations and maintenance.
(c) Participation in a report or study that is subsequently used in the preparation of
design requirements for a project shall not disqualify a firm from participating as a member of a
proposing team in a design-build, design-build-operate-maintain, or design-build-finance-
operate-maintain procurement unless the participation would provide the firm with a substantial
competitive advantage.
Sec. 602. Source selection methods assigned to project delivery methods.
(a) This section specifies the source selection methods applicable to procurements for
the project delivery methods identified in section 601, except as provided in sections 404, 405,
407, 408, 411, and 412.
(b)(1) The qualifications-based selection process set forth in section 604 shall be used to
procure architectural and engineering services in design-bid-build procurements.
(2) Competitive sealed bidding, as set forth in section 402, shall be used to
procure construction in design-bid-build procurements, except where rules authorize the use of
competitive sealed proposals, as set forth in section 403, for contracts for construction
management at-risk.
(c) Contracts for operations and maintenance shall be procured as set forth in section
401.
(d) Contracts for design-build shall be procured by competitive sealed proposals, as set
forth in section 403.
(e) Contracts for design-build-operate-maintain shall be procured by competitive sealed
proposals, as set forth in section 403.
(f) Contracts for design-build-finance-operate-maintain shall be procured by
competitive sealed proposals, as set forth in section 403.
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Sec. 603. Prequalification process for construction.
(a) Except for architectural and engineering services, prospective contractors for
procurements under this title may be selected through a prequalification process as set forth in
this section.
(b) The prequalification process shall provide for the annual publication of a list
describing specific types of solicitations for which the agency will seek prequalified contractors.
Solicitations may be added to the list at any time; provided, that the addition of a solicitation to
the list shall be published for not less than 30 days before the solicitation is released.
(c) The prequalification criteria may include the following:
(1) Experience and expertise of personnel;
(2) Prior completion of similar work;
(3) Receipt of favorable references from prior work;
(4) A certified letter indicating a surety’s willingness to provide bonding to the
contractor for 100% of the proposed bid price;
(5) Availability to complete the desired work;
(6) Confirmation that the vendor is responsible;
(7) Acceptable subcontracting plans; and
(8) Any other criteria identified by the agency as relevant to evaluation of the
prospective contractor.
(d) After an agency has prequalified prospective contractors, it may exclude from
competition for the ensuing solicitation any person that has not been prequalified.
(e) The use of the prequalification process under this section shall not nullify the
requirement for a determination of contractor responsibility under Title III.
Sec. 604. Architectural and engineering services.
(a) The District shall announce all requirements for architectural and engineering
services and negotiate contracts for these services on the basis of demonstrated competence and
qualification and at fair and reasonable prices.
(b) In the procurement of architectural and engineering services, the CPO shall:
(1) Provide notice to firms to submit annually a statement of qualifications and
performance data;
(2) Appoint one or more permanent or ad hoc architect-engineer evaluation
boards, comprised of members with experience in architecture, engineering, construction, and
District and related procurement matters.
(c) These boards shall include highly qualified professional employees of the District
and may include private practitioners of architecture, engineering, or related professions. The
members of a permanent or an ad hoc evaluation board shall be known as the architect-engineer
selection committee.
(d) For each architectural and engineering services contract over $100,000, the CPO
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shall appoint an architect-engineer selection committee. The selection committee for
architectural and engineering services contracts under this amount shall be established in
accordance with rules promulgated by the CPO. The selection committee shall evaluate current
statements of qualifications and performance data on file with the District and those that may be
submitted by other firms regarding the proposed contract. The selection committee shall
conduct discussions with no less than 3 firms regarding the contract and the relative utility of
alternative methods of approach for furnishing the required services, and then shall select
therefrom, in order of preference, based upon criteria established and published by the selection
committee, no less than 3 of the firms considered to be the most highly qualified to provide the
services required.
(e) The contracting officer shall negotiate a contract with the highest qualified firm for
architectural and engineering services at compensation which the contracting officer determines
in writing to be fair and reasonable to the District. The contracting officer shall take into
account the estimated value, the scope, the complexity, and the professional nature of the
services to be rendered. A contracting officer shall proceed as follows:
(1) If the contracting officer is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with
the
firm considered to be the most qualified, negotiations with that firm shall be terminated and the
contracting officer shall then undertake negotiations with the 2
nd
most qualified firm.
(2) If the contracting officer is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with
the
firm considered to be the 2
nd
most qualified firm, the contracting officer shall terminate
negotiations and shall undertake negotiations with the 3
rd
most qualified firm.
(3) If the contracting officer is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with
the
firm considered to be the 3
rd
most qualified firm, the contracting officer shall terminate
negotiations.
(4) If the contracting officer is unable to negotiate a contract with any of the
selected firms, the contracting officer may select additional firms in order of their competence
and qualifications and shall continue negotiations in accordance with this section until an
agreement is reached.
TITLE VII. BONDS AND OTHER FORMS OF SECURITY.
Sec. 701. Bid security in construction contracts.
(a) Bid security shall be required for all competitive sealed bidding and competitive
sealed proposals for construction contracts when the price is estimated by the contracting officer
to exceed $100,000. Bid security shall be a bond provided by a surety company authorized to
do business in the District or the equivalent in cash, or otherwise supplied in a form satisfactory
to the District. This section shall not prevent the requirement of such bonds on such contracts
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under $100,000 or bid or proposal bonds on any other contracts when the circumstances
warrant.
(b) Bid security shall be in an amount equal to at least 5% of the amount of the bid.
(c) If the Invitation for Bids or Request for Proposals requires that a bid bond be
provided, a bidder that does not comply shall be rejected unless, pursuant to rule, it is
determined that the bid or offer fails to comply in a nonsubstantial manner with the security
requirements.
(d) After bids are opened, they shall be irrevocable for the period specified in the
Invitation for Bids. If a bidder is permitted to withdraw its bid or proposal before award, or is
excluded from the competition before award, no action shall be had against the bidder or the bid
security.
Sec. 702. Contract performance and payment bonds in construction contracts.
(a)(1) When a construction contract is awarded in excess of $100,000, the following
bonds or security shall be delivered to the District and shall become binding on the parties upon
the execution of the contract:
(A) A performance bond satisfactory to the District, executed by a surety
company authorized to do business in the District or otherwise secured in a manner satisfactory
to the District, in an amount equal to 100% of the portion of the contract price that does not
include the cost of operation, maintenance, and finance; and
(B) A payment bond satisfactory to the District, executed by a surety
company authorized to do business in the District or otherwise secured in a manner satisfactory
to the District, for the protection of all persons supplying labor and material to the contractor or
its subcontractors for the performance of the construction work provided for in the contract.
(2) The payment bond required by paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection shall be in
an amount equal to 100% of the portion of the contract price that does not include the cost of
operation, maintenance, and finance.
(b) Pursuant to rules promulgated under this act, the CPO may reduce the amount of
performance and payment bonds to 50% of the amounts established in subsection (a) of this
section.
(c) This section shall not limit the authority of the District to require a performance
bond or other security in addition to such bonds or in circumstances other than specified in
subsection (a) of this section.
(d)(1) A person who has furnished labor or material to the contractor or its
subcontractors for the work provided in the construction contract, in respect of which a payment
bond is furnished under this section, and who has not been paid in full before the expiration of a
period of 90 days after the day on which the last of the labor was done or performed by such
person or material was furnished or supplied by such person for which claim is made, shall have
a right of action on the payment bond for the amount unpaid at the time of institution of the
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action and to prosecute the action for the amount due to the person.
(2) Any person having a direct contractual relationship with a subcontractor of
the contractor, but no contractual relationship express or implied with the contractor furnishing
the payment bond, shall have a right of action upon the payment bond upon giving written
notice to the contractor within 90 days after the date on which the person did or performed the
last of the labor or furnished or supplied the last of the material upon which the claim is made,
stating with substantial accuracy the amount claimed and the name of the party to whom the
material was furnished or supplied or for whom the labor was done or performed. The notice
shall be personally served or served by other form of receipted transmittal that confirms actual
delivery to the contractor at any place the contractor maintains an office or conducts its business
or at the contractor’s residence.
(e) An action instituted upon a payment bond shall be brought in a court of competent
jurisdiction within the District, but an action suit shall not be commenced after the expiration of
one year after the day on which the last of the labor was performed or material was supplied by
the person bringing the action. The obligee named in the bond need not be joined as a party in
the action.
(f) An action instituted under this section shall not be commenced after one year from
the date that the final labor was performed or the material was supplied.
Sec. 703. Bond forms and copies.
(a) The CPO shall prescribe the form of the bonds required by this act.
(b) Any person may request and obtain from the District a certified copy of a bond upon
payment of the cost of reproduction of the bond and postage, if any. A certified copy of a bond
shall be prima facie evidence of the contents, execution, and delivery of the original.
Sec. 704. Other forms of security.
Pursuant to rules promulgated under this act, the CPO may require a solicitation to
include one or more of the following forms of security to assure the timely, faithful, and
uninterrupted provision of operations and maintenance services, procured separately or as one
element of design-build-operate-maintain or design-build-finance-operate-maintain services:
(1) Operations period surety bonds that secure the performance of the
contractor’s operations and maintenance obligations under the project delivery methods set forth
in section 601;
(2) Letters of credit in an amount appropriate to cover the cost to the District of
preventing infrastructure service interruptions for a period up to 12 months under the project
delivery methods set forth in section 601; or
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(3) Appropriate written guarantees from the contractor (or depending upon the
circumstances, from parent corporations) to secure the recovery of procurement costs to the
District in the event of a default in performance by the contractor.
Sec. 705. Authority to require bonds.
Pursuant to rules promulgated under this act, the CPO may require a bond for any
solicitation if the CPO determines that it would be in the best interests of the District.
Sec. 706. Fiscal responsibility.
(a) Every contract modification, change order, or contract price adjustment under a
contract with the District shall be subject to prior written certification by the fiscal officer of the
entity responsible for funding the project or the contract, or other official responsible for
monitoring and reporting upon the status of the costs of the total project budget or contract
budget, as to the effect of the contract modification, change order, or adjustment in contract
price on the total project budget or the total contract budget.
(b) If the certification of the fiscal officer or other responsible official discloses a
resulting increase in the total project budget or the total contract budget, the contracting officer
shall not execute or make the contract modification, change order, or adjustment in contract
price unless:
(1) Sufficient funds are available therefor; or
(2) The scope of the project or contract is adjusted so as to permit the degree of
completion that is feasible within the total project budget or total contract budget as it existed
prior to the contract modification, change order, or adjustment in contract price under
consideration.
TITLE VIII. SUPPLY MANAGEMENT.
Sec. 801. Supply management rules.
The CPO shall issue rules governing:
(1) The management of goods during their entire life cycle;
(2) The sale, lease, disposal, or transfer of surplus goods by public auction,
competitive sealed bidding, competitive electronic sales, or other appropriate method designated
by rule; provided, that no employee of the disposing agency shall be entitled to purchase any
surplus goods.
Sec. 802. Disposition of surplus goods.
(a) The CPO may transfer District surplus goods to an organization qualified as tax-
exempt under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, approved August 16, 1954
(68A Stat. 163; 26 U.S.C. § 501), or state, county, or municipal jurisdictions after an attempt
has been made to:
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(1) Transfer property within an agency;
(2) Transfer property between agencies; and
(3) Auction the property for sale.
(b) To qualify for the receipt of surplus goods, a tax-exempt organization shall:
(1) Demonstrate that it meets any approval, accreditation, or licensing
requirements for operation of its program;
(2) Certify and provide evidence that it is a nonprofit and tax-exempt
organization under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, approved August 16,
1954 (68A Stat. 163; 26 U.S.C. § 501);
(3) Certify that it is not debarred, suspended, or excluded from any federal or
District program, including procurement programs; and
(4) Operate in compliance with applicable Federal nondiscrimination law.
(c)(1) Prior to sale, lease, transfer, or disposal of surplus computer and other
information technology assets, the Chief Technology Officer shall certify that the equipment is
sanitized of any confidential data or personal indentifying information.
(2) The CPO shall ensure that all policies for the transfer of computers or other
information technology goods are consistent with data and information security policies
developed by the Chief Technology Officer.
(d) The CPO may abandon, recycle, sell for scrap, or destroy undistributed surplus
goods upon making a written finding that the goods have no commercial value or the estimated
cost of their continued care and handling would exceed the estimated proceeds from their sale.
(e) The CPO shall publish on the Internet all forms used for the purpose of disposing of
surplus goods. The CPO may receive completed forms electronically.
(f) OCP shall publish records of all transfers of surplus goods on the Internet.
(g) OCP shall develop written policies and procedures for advertisement of auctions to
ensure adequate public notice.
Sec. 803. Electronic Inventory Control System.
The CPO shall establish an Electronic Inventory Control System to monitor surplus
goods. The Electronic Inventory Control System shall contain the following information:
(1) The date of receipt of goods;
(2) The agency from which goods were received;
(3) A description of the property, including quantity and condition;
(4) A photograph of the property; and
(5) The estimated value of the property.
Sec. 804. District of Columbia Surplus Property Sales Revolving Fund.
(a) There is established as a nonlapsing fund the District of Columbia Surplus Property
Sales Revolving Fund (“Surplus Property Fund”), which shall be used to pay the costs of
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conducting surplus property sales and operating and maintaining the Surplus Property Division
of OCP. This section shall not prohibit or limit the allocation of funds from the revenues of the
District for the purposes designated in this subsection.
(b) The CPO may collect and deposit in the Surplus Property Fund the proceeds from
the sale of surplus goods.
(c) All funds deposited into the Surplus Property Fund, and any interest earned on those
funds, shall not revert to the unrestricted fund balance of the General Fund of the District of
Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time, but shall be continually available for
the uses and purposes set forth in subsection (a) of this section without regard to fiscal year
limitation, subject to authorization by Congress.
(d) All funds in the District of Columbia Surplus Property Sales Operating Fund shall
be transferred to the Surplus Property Fund.
TITLE IX. PROHIBITED ACTIONS; REMEDIES.
Sec. 901. Oral agreements.
(a) A District employee shall not enter into an oral agreement with a contractor to
provide goods or services to the District government without a valid written contract. A
violation of this paragraph shall be cause for termination of employment of the District
employee.
(b) A District employee shall not authorize payment for the value of goods or services
received without a valid written contract. This subsection shall not apply to a payment required
by court order, a final decision of the Contract Appeals Board, a settlement, or an approval by
the CPO in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.
(c) Except as authorized under subsection (d) of this section, a contractor who enters
into an oral agreement with a District employee to provide goods or services to the District
government without a valid written contract shall not be paid. If the oral agreement was entered
into by a District employee at the direction of a supervisor, the supervisor shall be terminated.
(d)(1) The CPO shall review, verify, and either approve or disapprove a request
submitted by an agency director for authorization for payment for goods or services received
without a valid written contract. A request shall not be approved without written notification of
the disciplinary action taken by the relevant personnel authority against the responsible
employee.
(2) If the employee who authorized payment or delivery of goods or services
without a valid written contract is the CPO, the matter shall be referred to the Mayor for
appropriate disciplinary action and the Mayor shall state in writing the disciplinary action taken
before the CPO may approve or disapprove the request.
(3) The disciplinary action prescribed by this paragraph shall be in accordance
with Title XVI-A of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act
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of 1978, approved June 10, 1998 (D.C. Law 12-124; D.C. Official Code § 1-616.51 et seq.).
Sec. 902. Improper contracts.
(a) A contract entered into in violation of this act or the rules issued pursuant to this act
shall be void.
(b) A contract entered into in violation of this act or the rules issued pursuant to this act
shall not be void if:
(1) It is determined in a proceeding pursuant to this act or subsequent judicial
review that good faith has been shown by all parties; and
(2) The violation of the provisions of this act and the rules issued pursuant to
this act was de minimis.
(c) If a contract is determined to be void under subsection (a) of this subsection, a
contractor who has entered into the contract in good faith, without directly contributing to a
violation and without knowledge of any violation of the act or rules issued pursuant to this act
prior to the awarding of the contract, shall be compensated for costs actually incurred until the
date that the contract was determined to be void.
Sec. 903. Termination of contracts.
(a) The CPO may terminate, without liability, any contract if:
(1) The contractor has been convicted of a crime arising out of or in connection
with the procurement of any work to be done or any payment to be made under the contract; or
(2) There has been a violation of this act.
(b) If a contract is terminated pursuant to this section, the contractor shall:
(1) Be paid only the actual costs of the work performed to the date of
termination, plus termination costs, if any;
(2) Refund, and the CPO shall recover, all profits or fixed fees realized under
the contract; and
(3) Refund, and the CPO shall recover, any other fee, commission, percentage,
gift, compensation, or similar consideration paid, including contingent fees and brokerage fees.
(c) The rights and remedies in this section shall be in addition to any other right or
remedy provided by law and the exercise of any of them shall not constitute a waiver of any
other right or remedy provided by law.
Sec. 904. Sovereign immunity defense not available.
Unless otherwise specifically provided by law of the District, the District government
and every officer, department, agency, or other unit of the District government shall not raise the
defense of sovereign immunity in the courts of the District in an action based upon a written
procurement contract executed on behalf of the District government.
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Sec. 905. District government not liable for punitive damages.
In an action in contract based upon a written contract executed on behalf of the District
government, or by an official or employee acting within the scope of the official's or the
employee's authority, the District government, and its officers, departments, agencies, or other
units of government, shall not be liable for punitive damages.
Sec. 906. Claims by District government against contractors.
(a)(1) All claims by the District government against a contractor arising under or
relating to a contract shall be decided by the contracting officer, who shall issue a decision in
writing and furnish a copy of the decision to the contractor.
(2) The decision shall be supported by reasons and shall inform the contractor of
his or her rights as provided in this Title. Specific findings of fact shall not be required, but, if
made, shall not be binding in any subsequent proceeding.
(3) This subsection shall not apply to a claim or dispute for penalties or
forfeitures prescribed by a law or rule which another District government agency is specifically
authorized to administer, settle, or determine.
(4) This subsection shall not authorize the contracting officer to settle,
compromise, pay, or otherwise adjust any claim involving fraud.
(b) The decision of the contracting officer shall be final and not subject to review unless
an administrative appeal or action for judicial review is timely commenced as authorized by
section 1004.
(c) This title shall not prohibit the contracting officer from including a clause in District
government contracts requiring that pending final decision of an appeal, action, or final
settlement, a contractor shall proceed diligently with performance of the contract in accordance
with the decision of the contracting officer.
Sec. 907. Debarment and suspension.
(a)(1) After reasonable notice to a person, and reasonable opportunity to be heard:
(A) The CPO shall debar a person from consideration for award of
contracts or subcontracts for any conviction under subsection (c)(1) through (3) of this section,
for a judicial determination of a violation under subsection (c)(4) of this section, or for a CPO
determination of a violation under subsection (c)(5) through (7) of this section, unless the CPO
makes a finding in writing that it would be contrary to the best interests of the District to do so
or the present responsibility of the person is such that a debarment would not be warranted; and
(B) The CPO may debar a person from consideration for award of
contracts or subcontracts if one or more of the causes listed in subsection (b) of this section
exist.
(2) The debarment shall not be for a period of more than 5 years.
(b)(1) The CPO shall suspend a person from consideration for award of contracts or
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subcontracts for any conviction listed in subsection (c)(1) through (3) of this section, for a
judicial determination of a violation under subsection (c)(4) or (5) of this section, or for a CPO
determination of a violation under subsection (c)(5) through (7) of this section, unless the CPO
makes a finding in writing that it would be contrary to the best interests of the District to do so.
(2) The CPO may suspend a person from consideration for award of contracts or
subcontracts if the person is charged with the commission of any offense described in
subsection (c) of this section and if the CPO makes a finding in writing that such suspension
would be in the best interests of the District unless the present responsibility of the person is
such that a suspension would not be warranted.
(c) Causes for debarment or suspension include the following:
(1) Conviction for the commission of a criminal offense incident to obtaining, or
attempting to obtain, a public or private contract or subcontract or in the performance of the
contract or subcontract;
(2) Conviction under this act or under any other District, federal, or state law for
fraud, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving
stolen property, or any other offense indicating a lack of business integrity which currently
affects the contractor’s responsibility as a District government contractor;
(3) Conviction under District, federal, or state antitrust laws arising out of the
submission of bids or proposals;
(4) A violation under sections 813 through 821 of the District of Columbia
Procurement Practices Act of 1985, effective February 21, 1986 (D.C. Law 12-104; D.C.
Official Code §§ 2-308.13 through 2-308.21);
(5) A false assertion of certified business enterprise status or eligibility as
defined in the Small, Local, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Development and
Assistance Act of 2005, effective October 20, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-33; D.C. Official Code § 2-
218.01 et seq.); or
(6) A violation of contract provisions, as set forth below, of a character which is
regarded by the CPO to be sufficiently serious to justify debarment action:
(A) Willful failure, without good cause, to perform in accordance with
the specifications or within the time limit provided in the contract; or
(B) A recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory
performance in accordance with the terms or conditions of one or more contracts; provided, that
failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance caused by acts beyond the control of the
contractor shall not be considered to be bases for debarment; or
(7) Any other cause the CPO determines to be sufficiently serious and
compelling to affect responsibility as a District government contractor, including debarment by
another governmental entity for any cause listed in rules.
(d)(1) After reasonable notice to a person and reasonable opportunity to be heard, the
CPO may debar the person from consideration for award of any contract or subcontract if the
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CPO receives written notification from the Chairman of the Council or the chairperson of a
Council committee that the person has willfully failed to cooperate in a Council or Council
committee investigation conducted pursuant to section 413 of the District of Columbia Home
Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 774; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.13).
(2) The debarment shall be for a period of 5 years, unless the CPO receives
written notification during the 5-year period from the Chairman of the Council or the
chairperson of a Council committee that the debarred business has cooperated in the
investigation referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) For purpose of this subsection, the term “willfully failed to cooperate
means:
(A) Intentionally failed to attend and give testimony at a public hearing
convened in accordance with the Rules of Organization and Procedure for the Council; and
(B) Intentionally failed to provide documents, books, papers, or other
information upon request of the Council or a Council committee.
(e) The CPO shall issue a written decision to debar or suspend a person. The decision
shall:
(1) State the relevant facts and the reasons for the action taken;
(2) Describe the present responsibility of the person;
(3) Describe whether the debarment is in the best interests of the District; and
(4) Inform the debarred or suspended person of the right to judicial or
administrative review as provided in this act.
(f) A copy of the decision pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall be final and
conclusive unless fraudulent or unless the debarred or suspended person appeals to the Contract
Appeals Board within 60 days of receipt of the CPO’s decision by the person.
(g) The filing of an action pursuant to subsection (f) of this section shall not stay the
CPO’s decision.
(h)(1) Unless otherwise indicated in the debarment or suspension decision, the
debarment or suspension of a person shall be effective for all District government agencies.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated in the debarment or suspension decision, the
debarment or suspension of a person shall constitute a debarment or suspension of any affiliate
of that person.
(i) If a person is charged with or convicted of committing any offense listed in
subsection (c)(1) through (5) of this section, the Office of the Attorney General for the District
of Columbia or the United States Attorney, whoever is responsible for prosecuting the charge,
shall immediately notify the CPO of the charge or conviction and shall provide such information
to the CPO as may otherwise be permitted by law to enable the CPO to take any action
authorized by this section. The CPO, in turn, shall immediately notify both the Office of the
Attorney General for the District of Columbia and the United States Attorney of any action
taken or finding made under this section.
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Sec. 908. Claims by contractors against the District government.
(a) All claims by a contractor against the District government arising under or relating
to a contract shall be in writing and shall be submitted to the contracting officer for a decision.
(b) Within 120 days after receipt of a claim, the contracting officer shall issue a
decision, whenever possible taking into account factors such as the size and complexity of the
claim and the adequacy of the information in support of the claim provided by the contractor.
(c) Any failure by the contracting officer to issue a decision on a contract claim within
the required time period shall be deemed to be a denial of the claim and shall authorize the
commencement of an appeal on the claim as otherwise provided in this title.
(d)(1) If a contractor is unable to support any part of his or her claim and it is
determined that the inability is attributable to a material misrepresentation of fact or fraud on the
part of the contractor, the contractor shall be liable to the District government for an amount
equal to the unsupported part of the claim in addition to all costs to the District government
attributable to the cost of reviewing that part of the contractor's claim.
(2) Liability under this section shall be determined within 6 years of the
commission of the misrepresentation of fact or fraud.
Sec. 909. Interest.
Interest on amounts found due to a contractor on claims shall be payable at a rate set in
D.C. Official Code § 28-3302(b) applicable to judgments against the District government from
the date the contracting officer receives the claim until payment of the claim. Interest on
amounts found due to the District from a contractor on claims shall be payable at the rate set in
D.C. Official Code § 28-3302(b) applicable to judgments against the District government from
the date the contractor receives a contracting officer's written decision asserting the claim on
behalf of the District until payment of the claim.
Sec. 910. Employees subject to employee conduct standards of Merit Personnel Act.
(a) Except for those District government employees employed by agencies not subject
to the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, approved
March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-139; D.C. Official Code § 1-601.01 et seq.), District government
employees who participate in the procurement process shall be subject to the provisions of Title
XVIII of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978,
approved March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-139; D.C. Official Code § 1-618.01 et seq.).
(b) Participation in the procurement process shall include involvement, either directly or
indirectly, in:
(1) The decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, or preparation of any
part of a purchase request;
(2) Influencing the content of any specification or purchase standard;
(3) Rendering of advice;
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(4) An investigation or audit; or
(5) Any other advisory capacity pertaining to any contract, subcontract,
solicitation, or proposal.
TITLE X. CONTRACT APPEALS BOARD.
Sec. 1001. Creation of Contract Appeals Board.
(a)(1) There is established in the executive branch of the District government a Contract
Appeals Board (“Board”) to be composed of a chairperson and 2 other members.
(2) The members shall be appointed as administrative judges in the Career
Service and shall not be removed except for cause.
(3) The chairperson and members of the Board shall be appointed by the Mayor
with the advice and consent of the Council, and shall serve full-time.
(b) The Board shall adopt operational procedures, not inconsistent with this act,
necessary to execute the Board's functions. The chairperson's authority may be delegated to the
Board's members and employees, but only members of the Board may hear appeals and issue
decisions on the appeals. The attendance of at least 2 members of the Board shall constitute a
quorum.
(c)(1) The Office of the Attorney General may provide for the Board those goods,
materials, and administrative services that the chairperson requests, on a basis, reimbursable or
otherwise, agreed upon between the Office of the Attorney General and the chairperson.
(2) All costs of hearings before the Board, including witness fees and costs of
transcripts, shall be borne by the agency from which the appeal originated through direct billing.
(3) The Board shall use any fees received pursuant to section 1003 at the
discretion of the Chairperson to improve the Board's services and programs, including the
option to provide incentive awards to Board personnel consistent with Title XIX of the District
of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, approved March 3,
1979 (D.C. Law 2-139; D.C. Official Code § 1-619.01 et seq.).
Sec. 1002. Terms and qualifications of members.
(a)(1) The term of office of the chairperson and other full-time members of the Board
shall be 4 years, except that in making the initial appointment, the Mayor shall appoint one
members for a term of one year, one member for a term of 2 years, and the chairperson for a
term of 3 years. The terms of the chairperson and members first appointed shall begin on the
date that a majority of the first members are sworn in, which shall become the anniversary date
for all subsequent appointments. Thereafter, their successors shall be appointed for terms of 4
years, or for the balance of any unexpired term, but members may continue to serve beyond
their terms until their successors take office.
(2) The Mayor shall endeavor to nominate persons for appointment to the Board
at least 30 days before the expiration of a member's term.
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(3) Members may be reappointed for succeeding terms.
(4) If there is no chairperson, or if the chairperson is absent or unable to serve,
the member senior in length of service shall be acting chairperson.
(b) The chairperson and members of the Board shall be attorneys licensed to practice
law in the District who shall have no less than 5 years experience in public contract law. All
members of the Board shall have experience in the areas of procurement and contract law.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, current members of the Contract
Appeals Board, appointed pursuant to the District of Columbia Procurement Practices Act of
1985, effective February 21, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-85; D.C. Official Code § 2-301.01 et seq.),
serving on the effective date of this act, shall be considered qualified and may continue to serve
as members of the Board.
Sec. 1003. Jurisdiction of Board.
(a) The Board shall be the exclusive hearing tribunal for, and shall review and
determine de novo:
(1) Any protest of a solicitation or award of a contract addressed to the Board by
any actual or prospective bidder, offeror, or the contractor who is aggrieved in connection with
the solicitation or award of a contract;
(2) Any appeal by a contractor from a final decision by the contracting officer on
a claim by a contractor, when the claim arises under or relates to a contract; and
(3) Any claim by the District against a contractor, when such claim arises under
or relates to a contract.
(b) Jurisdiction of the Board shall be consistent with the coverage of this act as set forth
in section 105, except that the Board may enter into fee-for-service agreements with agencies,
departments, boards, commissions, and instrumentalities of the District or other public entities
that are not subject to the Board's jurisdiction. The agreements shall provide for the Board to
resolve contract disputes, including appeals and protests of those agencies, departments, boards,
commissions, and instrumentalities. With agreements of the parties, the Board may provide
alternate dispute resolution services.
Sec. 1004. Contractor's right of appeal to Board.
(a) Except as provided in section 908, within 90 days after the date of receipt of a
decision of the contracting officer, the contractor may appeal the decision to the Board by filing
a complaint.
(b) The Board shall provide, to the fullest extent practicable, informal, expeditious, and
inexpensive resolution of disputes, shall issue a decision in writing, or take other appropriate
action on each appeal submitted, and shall mail or otherwise furnish a copy of the decision to
the contractor and the Mayor. All decisions which constitute a final adjudication of appeal on
the merits shall be published in the District of Columbia Register.
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(c)(1) The rules of the Board shall include a procedure for the accelerated disposition of
any appeal from a decision of the contracting officer if the amount in dispute is $50,000 or less.
(2) The procedure shall be applicable at the sole election of the contractor.
(3) Appeals under the accelerated procedure shall be resolved within 180 days
from the date the contractor elects to utilize the procedure.
(d)(1) The rules of the Board shall include a small claims procedure for the expedited
disposition of any appeal from a decision of the contracting officer if the amount in dispute is
$10,000 or less. The procedure shall be applicable at the sole election of the contractor.
(2) The small claims procedure shall provide for simplified rules of procedure to
facilitate the decision of any appeal. The appeals may be decided by a single member of the
Board with any concurrences required by rule.
(3) Appeals under the small claims procedure shall be resolved, whenever
possible, within 90 days from the date on which the contractor files an appeal.
(4) A decision against the District government or the contractor reached under
the small claims procedure shall be final and conclusive and shall not be set aside except in
cases of fraud.
(5) Administrative determinations and final decisions under the small claims
procedure shall have no value as precedent for future cases under this title.
Sec. 1005. Appeal of Board decisions.
(a) A contractor may appeal a Board decision to the District of Columbia Court of
Appeals within 120 days after the date of receipt of a copy of the decision.
(b) If the CPO determines that an appeal should be taken, the CPO, with the prior
approval of the Office of the Attorney General, may appeal the Board's decision to the District
of Columbia Court of Appeals for judicial review within 120 days from the date of the receipt of
the Board's decision.
Sec. 1006. Oaths, discovery, and subpoena power.
(a) A member of the Board may administer oaths to witnesses, authorize depositions
and discovery proceedings, and require by subpoena the attendance of witnesses and production
of books and papers for the taking of testimony or evidence by deposition or in the hearing of an
appeal by the Board.
(b) If any witness, having been personally served with a subpoena, shall neglect or
refuse to obey the subpoena issued, on written application, the Board may report the fact of the
neglect or refusal to a judge of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia who may compel
obedience to the subpoena.
Sec. 1007. Actions in court; judicial review of Board decisions.
In the event of an appeal by a contractor or the CPO from a decision of the Board
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pursuant to section 1005, notwithstanding any contract provision, rule, or rule of law to the
contrary, the decision of the Board on questions of fact shall be final and conclusive and shall
not be set aside unless the decision is fraudulent, arbitrary, capricious, or so grossly erroneous as
to necessarily imply bad faith, or if the decision is not supported by substantial evidence.
Sec. 1008. Protest procedures.
(a) This section shall apply to a protest of a solicitation or award of a contract addressed
to the Board by any actual or prospective bidder, offeror, or contractor who is aggrieved in
connection with the solicitation or award of a contract.
(b)(1) A protest based upon alleged improprieties in a solicitation which are apparent
prior to bid opening or the time set for receipt of initial proposals shall be filed prior to bid
opening or the time set for receipt of initial proposals. In procurements where proposals are
requested, alleged improprieties which do not exist in the initial solicitation, but which are
subsequently incorporated into the solicitation, shall be protested not later than the next closing
time for receipt of proposals following the incorporation.
(2) In cases other than those covered in paragraph (1) of this subsection, protests
shall be filed not later than 10 business days after the basis of protest is known or should have
been known, whichever is earlier.
(c)(1) Within one business day of receipt of the protest, the Board shall notify the
contracting officer that the protest has been filed. Except as provided in this section, no contract
shall be awarded in any procurement after the contracting officer has received the notice and
while the protest is pending. If an award has already been made but the contracting officer
receives notice within 11 business days after the date of award, the contracting officer shall
immediately direct the awardee to cease performance under the contract and to suspend any
related activities that may result in additional obligations being incurred by the District under
the contract. Except as provided in this section, performance and related activities suspended
pursuant to this section shall not be resumed while the protest is pending.
(2) Performance under a protested procurement may proceed, or award may be
made, while a protest is pending only if the CPO makes a written determination, supported by
substantial evidence, that urgent and compelling circumstances that significantly affect interests
of the District will not permit waiting for the decision of the Board concerning the protest. A
copy of the determination shall be provided within one business day of issuance to both the
Board and the protester.
(d) On any direct protest pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Board shall
decide whether the solicitation or award was in accordance with the applicable law, rules, and
terms and conditions of the solicitation. The proceeding shall be de novo and the decision of
the Board shall be issued within 60 business days from the date on which the protest is filed.
Any prior determinations by administrative officials shall not be final or conclusive. If the
Board determines that a contract is void pursuant to section 902, the Board shall direct that the
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contract be cancelled and cause a determination to be made pursuant to section 902.
(e) A determination of an issue of fact by the Board under subsection (d) of this section
shall be final and conclusive unless arbitrary, capricious, fraudulent, or clearly erroneous.
(f)(1) In addition to other relief, the Board may order, when a protest is sustained, that
the contract awarded under the solicitation be terminated for the convenience of the District;
provided, that the Board shall not direct the award of a contract to a particular person. A
determination in this regard shall be based on considerations such as:
(A) Best interests of the District government;
(B) Seriousness of the procurement deficiency;
(C) Existence of prejudice to other bidders;
(D) Maintaining the integrity of the procurement system;
(E) Good faith of District government officials and other parties;
(F) Extent of contract performance; or
(G) Impact of termination on the agency's activities and mission.
(2) The Board may, when requested, award reasonable bid or proposal
preparation costs and costs of pursuing the protest, not including legal fees, if it finds that the
District government's actions toward the protester or claimant were arbitrary or capricious.
(g)(1) The Board may dismiss, at any stage of the proceedings, any protest, or portion of
a protest, it considers frivolous.
(2) In addition, the Board may require the protester to pay reasonable attorneys’
fees, for time counsel spent representing the agency in defending the frivolous protest or its
frivolous part. If the entire protest is dismissed on frivolous grounds, it may also assess the
protester additional damages for each day the contract was suspended equal to the amount of
liquidated damages specified in the contract for late completion of the contract.
(3) The Board shall not determine damages if liquidated damages are not
specified.
(4) In addition, counsel for the protester may be suspended or barred from
practicing before the Board.
(h) The Board shall adopt rules for exercising its authority under this section.
TITLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
Sec. 1101. Green procurement.
(a) Except for emergency procurements, before entering into any contract in excess of
$100,000, the District shall issue an environmental certification to demonstrate, to the
maximum extent practicable, the purchase of an EPPS.
(b) An environmental certification shall not be required for procurements that conform
to an applicable Default Environmental Preference Standard.
(c) The requirement shall be satisfied if a District solicitation included a requirement
that a contractor provide an EPPS.
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(d) Within one year after the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, OCP
shall prepare and submit to the Council a report detailing the progress of this policy, including
the following elements:
(1) Total contracting amount, and percentage of contracting amount, spent on
EPPS;
(2) Successes and challenges to implementing the policy; and
(3) Changes to policies or standards.
Sec. 1102. Payment of stipends authorized.
(a) The contracting officer may pay a stipend to cover a portion of bid or proposal
development costs to an unsuccessful responsible offeror that submits a responsive proposal to a
solicitation to generate meaningful competition and to ensure that small businesses are not
competitively disadvantaged.
(b) The contracting officer shall determine the number and amount of the stipends, if
any.
(c) In consideration for paying the stipend fee, the District may use any ideas or
information contained in the proposals in connection with any contract awarded for the project,
or in connection with a subsequent procurement, without any obligation to pay any additional
compensation to the unsuccessful offerors.
(d)(1) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, an unsuccessful offeror may
elect to waive the stipend.
(2) If an unsuccessful offeror elects to waive the stipend, the District shall not
use ideas and information contained in the offeror's proposal; provided, that this restriction shall
not prevent the District from using any idea or information if the idea or information is also
included in a proposal of an offeror that accepts the stipend.
Sec. 1103. District of Columbia Supply Schedule, Purchase Card, and Training Fund.
(a) The CPO may charge and collect a fee, in an amount to be determined by rule, on all
sales, purchase orders, delivery orders, task orders, and purchase card transactions made under
contracts awarded to contractors under the DCSS.
(b) The CPO may charge a fee for training conducted by the procurement training
institute established pursuant to section 206.
(c) Subject to the terms of any memoranda of understanding with the Chief Financial
Officer regarding adherence to the applicable requirements of federal grants, loans, or other
extensions of credit to the District, the Chief Procurement Officer shall collect any rebates
issued to the District by the purchase card issuers under the Purchase Card Program.
(d)(1) There is established as a nonlapsing fund the District of Columbia Supply
Schedule, Purchase Card, and Training Fund (“Fund”), which shall be used to pay the costs
associated with operating and maintaining the DCSS, the Purchase Card Program, cooperative
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purchasing agreements, the procurement training institute, or any other revenue, rebates, or fees
generated by programs administered by OCP. All fees and amounts collected pursuant to
subsections (a) through (c) of this section shall be deposited in the Fund.
(2) All funds deposited in the Fund, and any interest earned on those funds, shall
not revert to the unrestricted fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the
end of a fiscal year, or at any other time, but shall be continually available for the uses and
purposed set forth in paragraph (1) of this section without regard to fiscal year limitation,
subject to authorization by Congress.
Sec. 1104. Transparency in contracting.
(a) The CPO shall establish and maintain on the Internet publicly-available information
regarding District procurement. The information shall be made available in machine-readable
and searchable format and shall include the following:
(1) The legal authority and rules that govern procurement for all District
agencies and instrumentalities, including those exempt from the authority of the CPO;
(2) The names of all personnel with delegated contracting authority; and
(3) For contracts in excess of $100,000, a copy of the contract and any
determinations and findings, contract modifications, change orders, solicitations, or
amendments associated with the contract, including those made by District agencies exempt
from the authority of the CPO; provided, that the information required by this paragraph shall be
made available on the Internet for at least the duration of the underlying contract or 5 years,
whichever is longer.
(b) Agencies not subject to the authority of the CPO shall transmit the information
required by this section to the CPO for posting on the Internet.
Sec. 1105. Acquisition planning.
(a) The CPO shall develop and implement a process by which each agency subject to
the CPO’s procurement authority shall prepare and submit to the CPO an acquisition plan
identifying the size and nature of the anticipated procurement workload for the following fiscal
year.
(b) Each agency shall submit its acquisition plan for the following fiscal year to the
Council no later than March 20 of each year.
Sec. 1106. Rules.
(a)(1) The CPO, pursuant to Title 1 of the District of Columbia Administrative
Procedures Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et seq.),
shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this act, except Title VI.
(2) The Department of Real Estate Services, pursuant to Title 1 of the District of
Columbia Administrative Procedures Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C.
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Official Code § 2-501 et seq.), shall issue rules to implement the provisions of Title VI.
(b) The existing procurement rules, to the degree that they are consistent with this act,
shall remain in effect until they are superseded by rules issued in accordance with subsection (a)
of this section.
(c) A District government procurement rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to this
act shall not change in any way a contractual commitment by the District government or of a
contractor to the District government which was in existence on the effective date of the rule or
regulation.
TITLE XII. REPEALED PROVISIONS; TRANSFERS AND CONTINUATION.
Sec. 1201. Repealer.
(a) Title I, sections 201 through 207, Titles III through VII, sections 801 though 812,
and Titles IX through XI of the District of Columbia Procurement Practices Act of 1985,
effective February 21, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-85; D.C. Official Code § 2-301.01 passim), are
repealed. Sections 208 and 813 through 821 shall continue in effect.
(b) The Excellence in Local Business Contract Grading Act of 2008, effective February
5, 2008 (D.C. Law 17-137; D.C. Official Code § 2-325.04 et seq.), is repealed.
Sec. 1202. Transfers and continuation.
All rules, orders, obligations, determinations, grants, contracts, licenses, and agreements
shall continue in effect according to their terms until lawfully amended, repealed, or modified.
Sec. 1203. Applicability.
Sections 206, 803, and 1101 shall apply upon the inclusion of their fiscal effect in an
approved budget and financial plan.
Sec. 1204. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,
approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).
Sec. 1205. Effective date.
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as
provided in section 602(c) (1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of
Columbia Register.
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Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
Mayor
District of Columbia