Government of the District of Columbia

Office of Contracting and Procurement

Testimony of
David P. Gragan
Chief Procurement Officer

Public Hearing on Bill 17-755, the MVS, Inc. Payment Authorization Act of 2008 

Councilmember Carol Schwartz, Chairman
Committee on Workforce Development and Government Operations

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

John A. Wilson Building
Room 500
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004

INTRODUCTION
Chairman Schwartz and members of the Committee on Workforce Development and Government Operations, I am David P. Gragan, Director of the Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP).  Today, I am here to testify on Bill 17-755, the request for approval in the amount of $5,762.49 for office equipment provided to the Department of Employment Services.

Ratification
As of March 29, 2008, OCP is no longer approving ratifications.  We are aggressively educating agencies about avoiding ratifications and implementing tools such as term contracts to obviate the need for ratifications.
MVS Inc.  This ratification package was sent to OCP in December 2007, well in advance of the March deadline, and was subsequently approved by the Ratification Committee in April 2008.  This ratification requires Council approval since OCP approved ratification requests on behalf of MVS on two previous occasions.

In September 2006, DOES was in the process of expanding its Welfare to Work program, specifically the Project Empowerment/Transitional Employment Program.  Project Empowerment provides: supportive services; basic education; job coaching; employability; life skills and limited vocational training, as well as job search assistance for District of Columbia residents who reside in areas with high unemployment and/or poverty levels that the District has identified as “hot spots.” 

In order to launch the program, DOES purchased two printers, one fax machine, and thirty-six new computers to equip additional staff while outfitting a computer room.  The total amount for these purchases was $59,735.13.  All equipment, except for the printers and one fax machine (a total of $5,762.49), was received prior to the end of the fiscal year.  The balance of the order was delivered on or around October 2nd or 3rd.

Because the printers and the fax machine were delivered in the new fiscal year, a new purchase order was required.  Upon DOES’ consultation with its senior financial manager and the CO, it was determined that that best method to pay the vendor was through ratification.

I am comfortable with approving this ratification and can, in all honesty, state that it was a commitment that was inadvertently and literally snagged in the year-end spend.

Conclusion
OCP is still in the process of reviewing ratifications received prior to the March 29, 2008 deadline in an effort to determine what will be transmitted to the Council for approval.  Once we have completed this backlog, I fully expect a dramatic decrease in the number of ratification submitted for approval.  In closing, I am recommending that the Council approve Bill 17-755.  I thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today.  At this time, I would be happy to address any questions you may have.