Council of the District of Columbia

Committee of the Whole

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

 

TO:                       Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council

               

FROM:              Phil Mendelson, Chairman

                                                               

DATE:                July 3, 2019

 

 

                Please place on the July 9th additional meeting agenda the following measures:

 

• Council Procurement Authority Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2019
• Council Procurement Authority Emergency Amendment Act of 2019

 

                In addition to this notice, I am also circulating proposed amendments to the Council Rules to, among other provisions, authorize an investigation of the Council into the conduct of Councilmember Jack Evans.  The authorization would allow the Council to utilize an outside law firm to conduct the investigation.   Depending on the final size and scope of services to be provided firm, the Council could be required to undergo a competitive procurement that would not enable the Council to procure the services timely.  This proposed emergency legislation would, for the duration of the 90-day applicability of this emergency bill, generally exempt the Council from the requirements of the Procurement Practices Reform Amendment Act of 2010.  The intent of this is solely to expedite the investigation.

 

                I am confident that work to be done should not necessitate a competitive procurement given the high ethical standards that any firm would be held to.  It is my commitment that the selection and contract for services for the investigation will be done in close consultation with the General Counsel to the Council with regard to the law firm contract.  In addition, while the emergency is in effect for 90-days, I will direct the Secretary to nonetheless continue to use all existing processes and rules for any other Council procurements during this time.