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The Legal and Government Affairs Committee of the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department hereby RECOMMENDS that the Board of Water Commissioners approve the proposed amendments to the “Procurement of Goods and Services Policy” with the expectation that this item will be placed on the Board’s consent agenda, consistent with Article VIII, Section 12 of the Board’s By-Laws.
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Agenda of May 20, 2026
Item No. 2026-118
TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan
FROM: Gary Brown, Director
Water and Sewerage Department
RE: Approval of Procurement of Goods and Services Policy
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Scott MacGriff, Chief General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, the Legal and Government Affairs Committee of the Board of Water Commissioners hereby RECOMMENDS that the Board of Water Commissioners APPROVE the proposed amendments to the Procurement of Goods and Services Policy.
BACKGROUND / JUSTIFICATION
The proposed revisions to DWSD’s existing Procurement of Goods and Services Policy address operational gaps identified through implementation and provide additional clarity and consistency in key areas of the procurement process. The revisions have been reviewed and approved by Procurement and the Office of General Counsel, and they focus on three primary areas:
• Bid Protest Procedures. Refining the standards for standing, timing, and evidentiary requirements, and focusing Board-level review to protests that demonstrate a substantial likelihood of impacting the procurement outcome;
• Equalization Credits and Joint Ventures. Clarifying the application of equalization credits, limiting cumulative credits to eligible small/micro Detroit-based businesses, and establishing restrictions to prevent the use of Joint Ventures, Mentor Ventures, or other structures to circumvent these limitations; and
• Procurement Integrity & Non-Public Information. Establishing clear rules governing the use of non-public procurement information and identifying consequences for violations, including disqualification and potential referral for further action.
No changes are being made to procurement thresholds, approval authorities, or the overall structure of the Policy. These amendments are intended to strengthen internal controls, promote fairness and transparency, and ensure consistent application of procurement requirements. This item is anticipated to be placed on the Board’s consent agenda in accordance with Article VIII, Section 12 of the Board’s By-Laws.