The City of Atlanta has a need to maintain data on the performance of its vendors
in order to ensure that purchases are made from, and contracts are awarded to, responsible
prospective contractors only. The award of a contract to a contractor based on lowest
evaluated price alone can be false economy if there is subsequent default, improper
or exaggerated claims, late deliveries, or other unsatisfactory performance, resulting
in additional contractual and administrative costs. While it is important that city
purchases be made at the lowest price, this does not require an award to a contractor
solely because that contractor submits the lowest offer. A prospective contractor
must affirmatively demonstrate its responsibility, including, when necessary, the
responsibility of proposed subcontractors.
The department of procurement has responsibility for making determinations of responsibility
with input from the using departments and the office of contract compliance. In addition
to information gathered about a bidder during the bid process, it is important that
the city gather information regarding the responsibility of the contractor throughout
the term of the contract, including without limitation data regarding the contractor's
interactions with the city, and maintain said information in a central repository
which is accessible to all city departments. It is the policy of the City of Atlanta
to manage vendor relations proactively.
One aspect of responsibility is the vendor's compliance with the city's non-discrimination
policy. It is the policy of the City of Atlanta not to discriminate, either directly
or indirectly, against persons because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, domestic
relationship status, parental status, familial status, sexual orientation, national
origin, political affiliation, disability, age, gender identity or racial profiling.
To that end, the city has the right to take any measures it deems appropriate to ensure
that it is not a passive participant in public or private sector discrimination by
the vendors with whom it contracts.
