Res. No. 851
Resolution calling on the State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation that would require government entities that receive funds from the New York City treasury to submit to the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services a plan detailing its anticipated contracting actions for the upcoming fiscal year.
By Council Members Miller, Barron, Gentile and Gibson
Whereas, New York City spends a significant amount of resources on contracts: according to the New York City Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (“MOCS”), in fiscal year 2014, New York City procured more than $17.7 billion worth of supplies, services and construction; and
Whereas, There must be transparency in the city’s contracting process to ensure that the City’s limited resources are used efficiently and that both the city and its contractors are accountable to taxpaying New Yorkers; and
Whereas, In 2011, the Council passed Local Law 63, which requires the Mayor to “publish on the mayor’s office of contract services website a plan and schedule for each agency,” which includes all anticipated service contracts for the upcoming fiscal year; and
Whereas, Local Law 63 defines “agency” to include entities that receive funds in whole or in part from the City treasury; and
Whereas, Not only do Mayoral agencies receive funding from the City, but entities such as the Department of Education, the Health and Hospitals Corporation, and the New York City Housing Authority, receive funds from the City treasury as well; and
Whereas, As of July 15th, 2015, MOCS’ website includes the annual contracting plans of Mayoral agencies but there is no information on any of these entities; and
Whereas, Since these entities receive City funds and resources, they should be held to the same accountability and transparency standards as Mayoral agencies; and
Whereas, Monitoring the contracting practices of all City funded agencies is imperative to ensuring that taxpayer funds are used efficiently and appropriately; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation that would require entities that receive funds from the New York City treasury to submit to the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services a plan detailing its anticipated contracting actions for the upcoming fiscal year.
LS #5243
MA
6/5/15