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Committee holds bill removing grant procurement exemption after agency warnings
Summary
Prince George's County committee voted to hold CB-60-2024, which would subject grant‑funded procurements to standard competitive rules, after agencies warned the change could create staffing needs and delay time‑sensitive grant work.
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee on Sept. 12 voted to hold CB‑60‑2024, a bill that would remove a longstanding exemption allowing some procurements funded by grants to bypass Divisions 2, 6 and 7 of Subtitle 10 of the Prince George's County Code. Committee members said they want further discussion with the bill sponsor and the executive branch before advancing the measure.
"As proposed, CB‑60‑2024 seeks to allow products and services funded by grants to be subject to open competition in the Prince George's County procurement process," Nathaniel Tuck told the committee during an opening overview. Andrew Stover, who drafted the fiscal and policy analysis, said the exact number of affected procurements is unknown, and that if many agencies use the exemption the Office of Procurement could need more staff to oversee competitive solicitations and waivers.
The County Executive's office opposed the bill, citing "operational, fiscal impacts and also the impact that the community would face if enacted," Ms. Skinner said, and described risks including delays that could prevent timely expenditure of grant funds. Agency representatives from DPWT, Police and Health detailed how grant timeframes and technical requirements could be disrupted by added procurement steps.
Chair Watson allowed sustained questioning from committee members about how the current exemption works in practice. Acting Director Pamela Ford Dickerson told the committee her office examines notices of grant award and statements of work and does not automatically grant exemptions: "We do not just naturally say you get an exemption," she said, and reported that between July and early September her office received 387 requests and about 130 (30%) involved grant‑related exemptions.
Council member Bouquet, the bill sponsor, said she introduced the measure after a local company, Provista AI, lost a procurement to an out‑of‑state firm and that the measure is intended to protect county‑based businesses' opportunity to compete. After public testimony and extended committee discussion, Council member Hawkins moved to hold the bill so the sponsor and executive staff could meet; the motion carried.
The committee did not amend the bill; members asked staff and counsel to meet with the sponsor and administration to identify technical fixes and resource implications before a future committee meeting.
