NEW CITY – Rockland County Executive Ed Day signed a local law authorizing the use of “Best Value Award Methodology” for purchase contracts.
Risa Hoag, president of the Rockland Business Women’s Network was in attendance at the Monday signing.
The county legislature passed the law during their Tuesday, December 15 session.
“I am glad that the Legislative Majority finally held a Public Hearing and actually held a vote on this local law. I have filed numerous versions of this law, the first in 2015 with this version submitted in 2018, and its passage is long overdue,” Day said.
The use of the Best Value Award Methodology does not replace low bid awards. However, when appropriate, it will give the county the ability to consider other factors besides cost when awarding competitively bid contracts and will provide two important benefits.
The first benefit allows the county to consider a bidder’s status as a local, Minority or Woman Owned Business Enterprise when determining contract awards. Most MWBE firms are also small local businesses, so increasing contract awards to these companies helps the local economy.
“Ultimately this legislation should lead to more money remaining in Rockland to support business owners and their employees, and that benefits everyone,” said Hoag.
The new law will automatically sunset in three years, a provision insisted upon by Legislature Chairman Alden Wolfe.
