Cuyahoga County has revamped its procurement protocols, citing a commitment to increased efficiency and business friendliness. County Executive Chris Ronayne stated through Cuyahoga County News, "We are committed to making it easier and more efficient for businesses to work with the County." The administrative upgrades are designed to shorten the procurement lifecycle, expedite contract execution and purchase orders, following feedback from local businesses.
Noteworthy changes affecting local vendors and contractors were highlighted in a recent amendment which increased the approval threshold for departmental purchases from $1,000 to $2,000, and gave the Purchasing Department green light to sanction transactions up to $10,000, previously set at $5,000, "By improving our processes, we hope to encourage greater business participation and attract top talent to our region" Ronayne told Cuyahoga County News.
The Board of Control's approval threshold notably jumped from $5,000 to $10,000; concurrently, the minimum requirement for formal competitive bidding shot up from $50,000 to over $200,000. Paul Porter, the County’s Director of Purchasing, emphasized the County's response to local business demands, saying, "After hearing directly from business owners, contractors and vendors, it became clear that we needed faster, more responsive and accessible process," according to the Cuyahoga County News announcement.
The ordinance revamp maintains existing accountability standards by allowing the Council President to refer any Board of Control item to the full Council for a comprehensive review, the ordinance also mandates a notification to registered small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses of opportunities exceeding $1,000 and these changes are designed to open doors for a broader spectrum of business participation.
