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San Antonio staff outlines multi‑step procurement review; committee asks for Oct. 1 update
Summary
City staff presented a plan to review and revise San Antonio procurement processes, focusing on supplier outreach, bidder assistance and internal procedures; the audit committee voted to continue the discussion and requested staff return with recommendations by Oct. 1.
City staff told the Economic Development Board on Sept. 24 that they will conduct a focused review of the city—s procurement process and return to the council with recommended changes by Oct. 1.
Troy Collen, financial officer, told the committee the review will emphasize three areas: supplier participation, bidder capacity (assistance to help vendors complete technical requirements) and the procurement process itself, including a planned software replacement and a forecast of high‑profile contracts for fiscal 2026. “Tenemos que tener interacción con nuestros proveedores actuales, pero también queremos tener unos relacion futura y con proveedores potenciales,” Collen said during the presentation.
The review follows a mayoral charge to engage a diversity of community stakeholders and produce an implementation plan. Collen said staff proposes publishing a procurement forecast of planned contracts over $15,000 to put opportunities on vendors— radar and to highlight small, local businesses. He also told the committee staff is seeking a consultant to help implement and integrate a new procurement software platform and expects a two‑to‑two‑and‑a‑half year transition.
Committee members pressed staff for metrics and clarifications. Councilmember Galvn asked staff to show how local vendors benefit, how many contracts will be divided into smaller bid packages, and what portion of contract dollars return to the local economy. He also asked for clearer payment timelines for vendors and for staff to identify industries not present in San Antonio, which would require out‑of‑state or out‑of‑country procurement.
Councilmember Spears said she wants measurable goals and outreach methods, and recommended including veteran‑owned firms in outreach. She also asked for a tangible performance target showing the local economic impact of buying locally and said staff could share existing preference program metrics.
Staff told the committee they will return with a higher‑level briefing to the full council (Session B) and a deeper procurement forecast to the audit committee in November; the goal is to present a comprehensive plan in mid‑2026 based on stakeholder feedback. Collen summarized the near‑term timeline: publish an annual procurement forecast for fiscal 2026, confirm routes for contract approval (high‑profile committee review, council agenda, manager delegation or airport authority) and then deliver a detailed plan based on stakeholder sessions.
The committee approved a motion to continue the discussion and direct staff to proceed with stakeholder outreach and the recommended timeline. The motion did not name a mover or seconder in the transcript and passed by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was provided. Staff was asked to include information on union participation, veteran and small‑business outreach, likely barriers (insurance requirements and payment schedules) and the scope of the planned software replacement.
Committee members also requested that, before staff issues a request for proposals for consultants, they provide cost estimates, clearer metrics of past program successes, and a plan for how proposed work would be funded and staffed going forward.
The presentation was advisory; no ordinance or binding policy change was enacted at the Sept. 24 meeting. Staff will return with the requested materials on the schedule discussed.
