Improving Procurement Practices in the Wake of the Pandemic.

• Author: Barrett, Katherine
• Position: IN PRACTICE: PERSPECTIVE

Historically, procurement has often been something of a backwater of state and local government management. But when the pandemic hit, procurement officers suddenly became either the heroes or the goats of government service. Shortages of masks, ventilators, cleaning equipment, and even toilet paper seized the public's attention and provoked calls for reform.

Now, with the aid of vaccinations, the pandemic has been waning. But many in government continue to be focused on ways to improve their procurement practices. Even though the pandemic has been a singular event, other emergencies can easily smash supply chains, leading to shortages of necessary goods and services.

"Reading about the 1918 pandemic," said Nathan Myers, associate professor of public science and public administration at Indiana State University, "there was a sense of collective amnesia. It was such a terrible thing that people chose to forget it. Hopefully with more documentary evidence now, people will remain committed to seeing procurement reform through."

Of course, even in the absence of a pandemic, hurricane, tornado, or wildfire, the necessity of strategic procurement policies is a day-to-day concern.

Purchasing practices that focus only on low-bid have been common practice historically. However, as more governmental entities work towards not only budget goals, but also consider business continuity, long-term financial planning, and impact on service level many governments have begun consider risk and quality factors beyond price.

Michael Owh, chief deputy director at the internal services department of the County of Los Angeles, said: "The world had prioritized efficiency over resiliency. Many were hyperfocused on getting the best price." Owh's county has been reviewing ways to move away from that environment, as have many others.

The State of Florida ran into these kinds of issues during the pandemic, and now, "we are transitioning away from low bid," said Carrie Mathes, procurement manager for Orange County Government in Florida. "Beyond just price, we want to know if vendors can get services to us without disruption. And you can't necessarily do that with low bid."

Whether or not low-bid contracts are used, one of the most alarming lessons of the pandemic is that in times of pressing shortages, vendors can turn out to be less competent than they first appeared to be if they aren't vetted sufficiently. "During the pandemic, states faced challenges with...