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Supervisors endorse continued emergency contracting authority with added oversight demands
Summary
The board concurred with the mayor's 35th supplemental proclamation authorizing streamlined extensions of COVID-related contracts, while several supervisors emphasized the need for GAO oversight, continued reporting, and a plan to phase out emergency procedures.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on April 27 to concur with the mayor's 35th supplemental proclamation that allows departments to extend certain COVID-19-related contracts through a streamlined process and to adopt related controller policies intended to expedite payments and contract amendments under the emergency orders (item 26).
Supervisors said the item benefits from prior review in the Government Audit and Oversight (GAO) Committee. As GAO chair Dean Preston explained, the committee hearing reviewed contracts issued under prior supplementals and discussed proposed changes in the 35th supplemental. Preston said the move to committee was intended to ensure transparency and controls rather than to indicate suspected abuse. The Controller's Office provided details on contracts approved to date and clarified that charter requirements for contracts exceeding statutory thresholds remain unchanged.
Concerns and conditions Supervisors and GAO members pressed for continued reporting on contracts approved under the supplemental because the new process moves from an automatic reporting structure to a by-request reporting mechanism. The Controller's Office agreed GAO would continue to receive reports on emergency contracts when requested. Preston and others also urged the board to begin planning benchmarks and milestones for phasing out emergency contracting procedures as pandemic conditions change.
Vote The board adopted the concurrence unanimously by roll call (11 ayes). Several supervisors reiterated that committee oversight would continue and that GAO expects periodic reports on contracts approved under the supplemental.
Implementation notes The Controller's Office and departments will implement policies for streamlined approvals and expedited payments where authorized; the board directed that GAO should receive reports and that the board continue to examine emergency order procedures as recovery milestones are met.
Speakers (quoted) - Supervisor Dean Preston (GAO chair): "Moving this to committee was... in the interest of good government transparency and oversight." (paraphrase) - Supervisor Aaron Peskin: raised questions about ongoing reporting and transition planning.
Ending The board concurred in the 35th supplemental and requested continued oversight and a plan to consider phasing out emergency contracting procedures as recovery milestones are achieved.
