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), here to testify on Bill17-856,  the “Option Exercised for Motir Services Incorporated.”  My prepared testimony will be posted on the OCP website after this hearing.

The Office of Property Management (OPM) has provided documentation to OCP stating satisfaction of the janitorial services being delivered by Motir Services Incorporated.  Motir Services Incorporated, a certified business enterprise, has been providing janitorial services to the District under this contact since May 9, 2006.  Because of their satisfaction with Motir’s services, OPM requested that OCP exercise the second option period of this contract.  That contract period was to have been from May 9, 2008 through May 8, 2009.  

Of course, no contract action is presented to Council or approved by me without evidence from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) that funds are available.  Despite repeated reminders, the certification of funding for this contract option was not provided to OCP until May 1st.  This prevented us from meeting the 10 day passive review period required by Council.  As a result, OCP was required to exercise a partial option from May 9, 2008 to September 9, 2008 in order to avoid a lapse in service. 

As an aside, I struggle with how to deal with these situations.  When agencies are not responsive to repeated requests by my staff for funding documentation and contract deadlines are missed, I end up having to try to explain that in a hearing.  I have been tempted to allow a contract to expire and have the agency suffer through a lapse in service, but I fear the lesson will have too many negative consequences.

That said, this contract package before you was submitted for review and introduced on July 3, 2008 as an emergency resolution.  When it was not moved before recess, OCP negotiated another partial option to continue services through October 8, 2008. We are now asking for the complete option package through May 9, 2009 now considered retroactive, to be approved.

In closing, approval of this contract provides continuity of services from a business that is highly regarded by its customer agency.  I am therefore recommending that the Council approve B17-856.  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.