Businesses that want to learn more about how to do business with Cobb can attend the following sessions:
5-7 p.m. Today at the West Cobb Senior Center; 4915 Dallas Hwy, Powder Springs 30127
5-7 p.m. Aug. 13 at the E. Cobb Government Center; 4400 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta 30068
5-7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Piedmont Church 570 Piedmont Road, Marietta 30066
5-7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Senior Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs Street, Suite 100, Marietta 30064
Reserve a spot by calling Inger Eberhart at 770-528-3317 or Inger.Eberhart@CobbCounty.org
Cobb businesses snatched up less than half of the $8.1 million spent on professional service contracts last year, despite a new policy designed to give county-based companies an edge.
From February 2012 to February 2013, $3.6 million went to local businesses. Twenty-five, or 40 percent, of the 62 professional service contracts awarded went to local vendors.
It’s the first time Cobb has collected data on local contract awards, and officials say it’s too soon to conclude whether the policy change is giving an advantage to local companies. But they believe this and other efforts are having a positive effect.
“We wanted to support Cobb-based businesses and give them a preference for being local provided they meet all the criteria, but we couldn’t justify giving a contract just because they’re based in Cobb if their cost was double,” said Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, who advocated the ordinance. “By next year at this time, we will be able to see data that supports if it’s working or not.”
The local-preference policy applies only to professional services such as consulting work or engineering contracts, not goods or products, which make up a far larger portion of the county’s spending. About 75 percent of the 11 professional contracts awarded by parks and recreation last year went to local companies, while about 33 percent of transportation’s 39 contracts went to Cobb companies.
By next year, Birrell said she would like at least 75 percent of all professional service contracts to go to local companies.
The policy gives local companies an extra five points in the county’s bidding and evaluation system on contracts between $50,000 and $100,000. For contracts over $100,000, local companies will receive an additional three points. The highest-ranked bidder gets the contract, regardless of its home base.
County leaders discussed expanding the policy to include other types of services, but were concerned it would be too costly, said Joe Tommie, Cobb’s purchasing director.
“We want businesses to prosper in the county because it benefits the entire county,” he said. “Sometimes there is an added service advantage to be able to work with local people.”
Commissioner Birrell, who represents northeast Cobb, pushed the policy change as part of her “Keep it in Cobb” initiative to promote local businesses. The county also began holding seminars in each district this year to explain the bidding process.
Local businessmen such as Mark Zangari, president of the West Cobb Business Association, say the new rule is a step in the right direction. Zangari also praised the county’s outreach to local businesses through the seminars, which allow business owners to meet with county officials. Zangari said he was able to get business with the county after attending one.
“The big problem with people is they think they’re too small to do business with the county,” Zangari said. “You have to look at the county like any other business. People do business with people they know, like and trust.”
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