Summary

Making it easier to do business with multiple local government agencies

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously adopted a measure to assist small businesses and streamline government to save tax dollars. The Council approved a new partnership agreement enabling Sound Transit to use King County’s small businesses certification program. Sound Transit joins the Port of Seattle in using this program, creating a one-stop shop for small businesses who want to contract with King County, Sound Transit, or the Port.

“Supporting small businesses is critical to job growth and economic recovery in our region,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, sponsor of the legislation and chair of the Government Accountability, Oversight and Financial Performance Committee. “Small businesses can now compete for contracts with multiple agencies—the County, the Port, and now Sound Transit—without the hassle of completing multiple applications.”

“By sharing the same standards for certification, we are significantly cutting the paperwork for small firms that want to do business with us – with one common standard, one common application, and one common online directory,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

The County’s Contracting Opportunities Program (COP) has been in operation for approximately eight years. The goal of COP is to ensure that a portion of King County’s contracts for goods, services, and construction projects goes to small businesses. Sound Transit and the Port of Seattle have similar programs. Rather than each agency setting up its own set of criteria, application forms, and certification process, today’s action allows all three governments to share costs and simplify the process for small businesses.

“This program benefits small businesses by creating one clear set of criteria, one application process, and one official certification that can be leveraged in both the public and private sector,” said James Evans, Program Specialist for Sound Transit. “It is also more cost effective for taxpayers with government agencies sharing costs and information.”

With today’s action, the County will perform certification for Sound Transit’s small business program. Sound Transit will pay a $23 certification cost per business and one-third of the cost to maintain the database of certified small contractors and suppliers. King County provides this service for the Port of Seattle under a similar arrangement approved last year. By eliminating duplicated systems in the three agencies, the system saves taxpayer dollars.

The agreement benefits businesses by standardizing procurement processes and only having one application form for multiple agencies. In addition, only having one certifying agency helps improve efficiency.