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Dallas procurement staff outline DRIVE plan to replace BID, promising training, local preference and 'first look' for small contracts
Summary
Procurement Director Juanita Ortiz said the proposed DRIVE policy would expand capacity building, prioritize small/local/veteran firms for procurements under $100,000, and add an engagement score; training for vendors would begin after council adoption.
Juanita Ortiz, director of the Office of Procurement Services, presented the city's proposed DRIVE (Developing Regional and Inclusive Vendor Enterprises) policy as a replacement for the 2020 Business Inclusion & Development (BID) policy the city suspended in June.
"DRIVE is designed to expand opportunities for small and local businesses across Dallas and in the region," Ortiz said. She described several changes: unbundling large procurements to reduce barriers such as bonding and insurance requirements; prioritizing quotes from small, local and veteran‑owned firms through a 'first look' initiative for procurements under $100,000; and shifting to a best‑value procurement approach that balances cost and quality while tracking inclusion efforts.
Ortiz said DRIVE will introduce an engagement score to evaluate a vendor’s participation and regional economic impact and that utilization reports and audits will remain part of compliance. She emphasized regional coordination with partner agencies including the Dallas Independent School District, DFW Airport and DART to expand opportunities and technical assistance for vendors.
On implementation and outreach, Ortiz said vendor training and capacity‑building sessions will begin only after council adoption of the policy (anticipated Dec. 10), with a communication and training rollout in January to prepare departments and vendors.
