Efficiency in Local Government Procurement is Possible

Effective government procurement isn't just about compliance—it's about creating vibrant, competitive marketplaces where every qualified vendor, regardless of size or experience level, has a genuine opportunity to contribute to a community's success.

Small, local, and emerging businesses are deeply rooted in their communities. When they win government contracts, they tend to hire locally, purchase from local vendors, and reinvest profits back into the community, creating a “multiplier effect” that generates additional economic activity and contributes to economic resilience. Ensuring that these businesses are participating and engaged in the procurement process—and that they are not encountering undue barriers—is just good governance.

Small, local vendors are often inadvertently excluded from government procurement due to factors such as limited bonding capacity, lack of knowledge of complex procurement processes, and limited networks and capital resources. 

Assessments undertaken by Griffin & Strong in jurisdictions across the country have identified these barriers in both anecdotal accounts and statistical outcomes. A proactive plan to address them includes specific barrier identification, strategic market development, outreach and capacity building. It also factors for elements unique to the government entity, such as budget constraints, staffing capacity, political environment, stakeholder expectations, and economic development goals.

A one-size-fits-all consulting approach will not work in reforming procurement policy and practice so that government becomes a vehicle for helping local businesses to achieve their potential in the marketplace.  Any plan to address procurement barriers should involve a comprehensive assessment of an entity's unique ecosystem. This includes examining current systems, priorities, available resources, and specific operational needs.

Any solutions proposed must work within real-world constraints while maximizing opportunities for vendor participation. A ground-up approach—examining not just what policies say, but how they function in practice—will assist in identifying the subtle barriers that often prevent small, local, and emerging businesses from successfully competing.

Efficient procurement isn't measured just by policy compliance—it's measured by how well you create opportunities for all qualified businesses to contribute to your community's prosperity while delivering the best value for taxpayers.