The Washtenaw County Commissioners Ways and Means Committee recently gave the thumbs up to a proposal which gives a financial boost to local, county and state businesses which bid on contracts bid out by Washtenaw County.

The Local Vendor Preference Policy, discussed at the committee’s Nov. 5 meeting, would be implemented no later than July 1, 2015, if approved by the Board of Commissioners at the group’s Nov. 19 meeting.

According to a memo prepared by the county’s Office of Community and Economic Develoment, a 0.50 FTE administrative coordinator would be hired and “total cost of the program in the first year will be $83,690.” In 2016, it is estimated that the program would cost $35,704 and $37,878 for 2017.

Under the auspices of the Local Vendor Preference Policy, vendors would qualify for a variety of “bid discounts.” This is from the memo explaining the proposed program sent to County Commissioner Felicia Brabec from Mary Jo Callan, head of the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Develoment:

• Purchases $5,000 and under – departments are encouraged to first consider local vendors in the County and the State of Michigan.

• Purchases $5,000 and over but under $25,000 (requiring three quotes) – departments are encouraged to solicit quotes from qualified local vendors. A bid discount of 5 percent is applied on all qualified Washtenaw County company quotes.

• Purchases $25,000 and over but under $200,000 – department are encouraged to include qualified local vendors while soliciting bids; a bid discount of 5 percent is applied on all qualified Washtenaw County company bids and 3 percent is applied to all qualified Michigan company bids.

• Purchases $200,000 and over – departments are to include qualified local vendors while soliciting bids; a bid discount of 2 percent is applied on all qualified Washtenaw County company bids and 1 percent is applied to all qualified Michigan company bids.