Council adopts contractor-evaluation guidelines, asks CAO for central tracking staff

The Los Angeles City Council approved a package of contractor‑evaluation guidelines on May 30 intended to flag poor-performing firms and reduce repeat problems across city projects.

Councilmember Chick introduced verbal amendments and described the package as the result of work by General Services, the CAO and the Board of Public Works. The motion added direction that the CAO and General Services develop a contractor questionnaire or survey to gather information on firm performance, report trends and deliver findings to the Governmental Efficiency Committee within six months.

Speakers cited prior contract failures and cost overruns as motivating the action. “If you default on a contract with the city of Los Angeles, which could cost the taxpayers millions of dollars… you will not be considered for a contract again,” Councilmember Sivanich said, urging a clear disqualification mechanism. Councilmember Goldberg asked that the CAO identify staffing and funding to run a central repository and verify contractor disclosures, noting that a single staff position may be required to check histories and prevent dishonest bidders from continuing to win work.

Councilmembers stressed fairness and due process: the adopted guidelines include an appeal mechanism and were developed with contractor input, the sponsor said. The motion passed by roll call; the clerk recorded 13 ayes.

The council also instructed the CAO to consider default history as a disqualifier and return with language and staffing proposals to implement a central contract‑performance clearinghouse. The sponsor said the CAO position would pay for itself through reduced project overruns and cleanup costs.

Councilmembers and staff said the measure aims to reduce repeated poor performance by vendors across departments and proprietary agencies and to protect taxpayers from avoidable cost increases.