FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C.—D.C. Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) welcomed submission of new legislation by Mayor Muriel Bowser on contracting and procurement reform, saying it addresses some of the same issues addressed in her own legislation on the topic, which she introduced last month. She said she will review the Mayor’s proposal to see where the two bills align with and complement each other.
“Everyone is frustrated at one time or another with the hoops that agencies and vendors must jump through and the pace of contracting and procurement,” Nadeau said. “The Mayor and I share an interest in making it easier for agencies and businesses, while ensuring a transparent and fair process. A transparent, efficient, and well-managed contracting and procurement process reduces delays, fraud, and abuse, while serving as a powerful tool to support small and local businesses.”
Nadeau’s legislation, B26-0594, the Contracting and Procurement Reform Amendment Act of 2026, would increase transparency and streamline the contracting and procurement process by creating a consolidated procurement portal; providing real-time tracking status and checklists to ensure all documents are submitted; and improving communication and coordination among the Office of Contracting and Procurement, District agencies and vendors. The bill would also transfer the Office of the Ombudsman of Contracting and Procurement outside the agency it’s supposed to watch over, to the City Administrator’s office, and give it more responsibility.
The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George and Zachary Parker and has been referred to the Committee on Public Works & Operations for review.
“The District’s contracting and procurement process can be inefficient and frustrating for everyone,” Nadeau said. “It’s hard for vendors, agencies, and the Council itself to get information about the status of contracts; agencies have to comply with burdensome requirements for even small purchases; and OCP is often unable to take action with underperforming contractors quickly.”
###
Contracting and Procurement Reform Amendment Act of 2026
Introduced by Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau; co-introduced by Councilmember Janeese Lewis George; co-sponsored by Councilmember Zachary Parker
- Creates a consolidated procurement portal that combines the District’s multiple existing portals into a unified system. The portal would provide real-time status tracking for solicitations and awards, along with checklists to ensure all legally required documents are submitted, improving communication and coordination among OCP, District agencies, and vendors through a transparent and streamlined experience.
- Requires OCP to develop plain-language guidance and templates establishing standardized solicitations and provide early notice of anticipated solicitations. This would address accessibility challenges for businesses, increase CBE participation, and promote greater competition.
- Transfers the Office of the Ombudsman of Contracting and Procurement to the Office of the City Administrator and expands the scope of its responsibilities, giving the ombudsman greater enforcement authority, free from the inherent conflict of interest when operating within the same agency. It also requires that the Ombudsman identify systemic issues and recommend policy changes and strategies to the Mayor and the Council to improve the contracting and procurement process.
- Reforms the Supply Schedule to ensure that it is consistently updated, and to allow District agencies to make direct purchases from approved vendors without unnecessary delays or additional approvals. The DC Supply Schedule is the pre-approved list of vendors that District agencies use to buy services and goods.
- Requires that technical evaluation panels have access to all information provided to OCP related to the procurement. Technical evaluation panels are composed of program personnel and experts who assist in reviewing the qualifications of a prospective contractor. The bill also requires that OCP provide written justification for any decision to reject the panel’s recommendation. These updated requirements ensure operational alignment between OCP, agencies, and contractors.
- Establishes a permanent pay-for-performance program. Under this well-tested approach, compensation for select contracts will be tied to the achievement of measurable outcomes and benchmarks. Implementing this requirement will increase contractor accountability and drive better outcomes for District communities.
- Updates Council review procedures related to modifications and option years to accelerate procurement timelines and deliver goods and services to agencies requiring them while still safeguarding public funds.
- Enhances Council oversight by requiring the Chief Procurement Officer to enter into a data-sharing agreement with the Council and by applying full Council review procedures to contract modifications that increase a contract’s total value above $1 million. These measures will ensure that Council has the access to information necessary to identify and resolve issues as they arise.