In a push to bolster local commerce, Long Beach has ramped up its Local Preference Program for city procurements. What this means for the city's businesses and nonprofits is more weight in the competitive bidding process, effectively boosting their odds when going up against contenders from further afield. Mayor Rex Richardson highlighted the importance of local businesses to the area’s financial prosperity, saying, “Long Beach businesses are an indispensable asset to our local economy, and we remain dedicated to ensuring their success.” These comments were relayed in an announcement published on the City of Long Beach's official website.
Long Beach enterprises that hold a valid business license and, if applicable, a seller’s permit can looks forward to additional points in their favor during bid evaluations. For retail or commercial (non-residential) businesses, this could be a 10 percentage point boon to their scores. Smaller-scale deals, now set at a threshold of $40,000, will allow these local entities to provide quotes for goods and services without needing to navigate more complex bidding or proposal systems. According to the city’s announcement, this streamlining is a conscious effort to cut down the barriers that vendors face when attempting to do business with the government.
The accolades for these procurement enhancements include a nod from the National Procurement Institute, which granted the city's Financial Management Department the 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. Commenting on this recognition, City Manager Tom Modica stated, “This award is a testament to the City’s commitment to transparency, efficiency and equity in our procurement process.” These words were extracted from the press release.
To help local businesses navigate the updated processes, the city has put forth resources such as an Inclusive Procurement Outreach Coordinator and encourages vendors to use the Long Beach Buys e-procurement platform. An additional educational support offered to vendors is the monthly Doing Business with the City webinar, which throws light on forthcoming opportunities. The city press release points out that the next webinar is scheduled for October 17 and will be accessible through Zoom upon registration completion.
Long Beach itself, beyond the scope of its procurement strategies, boasts a vibrant community with gorgeous coastal vistas, renowned attractions like the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific, plus a busy port and a bustling business environment. For more information on what's happening in Long Beach, you can slide over to the city's website or join the conversation on their various social media channels.
