Denver City Council is eyeing a major shift in how the city hands out construction and service contracts, one that would let staff factor in workforce, safety, and track record alongside price. Fans of the idea say it is about bringing some consistency and common sense to purchasing as Denver heads into an especially heavy stretch of capital projects.
According to a city presentation posted on the City and County of Denver's Legistar page (City and County of Denver), the draft ordinance would let agencies use a suite of “best-value” criteria instead of defaulting to the lowest bid. The briefing describes a formal prequalification system and a scoring framework meant to help departments weigh lifecycle costs, safety records, and employee benefits. The proposal is framed as an update to Executive Order No. 8, the contracting directive issued in February 2020 by then-Mayor Michael B. Hancock (Executive Order No. 8).
“Just to be clear, we’re not saying that we should ignore the cost, and if there are values, we should pay for them at any price,” Councilmember Chris Hinds said, arguing that price should be considered “in a suite of values” instead of standing alone, as reported by the Denver Gazette. Councilmember Flor Alvidrez, one of the sponsors, told the committee that cost would remain a key factor under the proposed model.
How bids would be scored
The city presentation lays out proposed evaluation elements that include legal compliance, financial capacity, past performance, workforce practices, safety, compensation and benefits, project approach, and cost. It also calls for a mandatory prequalification registry for construction contractors on projects valued at $1 million or more and compares Denver’s draft framework with Adams County’s best-value policy, which was adopted in 2014.
Why proponents say the change matters
Supporters say the timing matters. Denver is lining up a large slate of work, and every contracting decision will be under extra scrutiny. The city’s Vibrant Denver bond package would invest roughly $935 million in infrastructure, according to Denver.gov, and the National Western Center redevelopment lists multiple active construction phases on its campus (National Western Center). Backers argue that best-value tools help shield taxpayers from rock-bottom bids that can later turn into quality, safety, or schedule problems.
The proposal is still in draft form, and councilmembers are raising questions about how it would affect on-call contracts and small, local firms, according to the Denver Gazette. Sponsors have floated a phased rollout that would start with construction contracts and add services later, and a spokesperson for Mayor Mike Johnston’s office told the Gazette the administration is open to working with sponsors on adjustments to the executive order language. Council committees are expected to keep grinding through the details before anything heads to a full council vote.
