A D.C. Council member wants to kill a proposed contract between the Metropolitan Police Department and an Ohio-based vehicle services firm, arguing the District government must consider local businesses first.
Ward 8 Council Member Marion Barry introduced last week a resolution to spike the $4.44 million deal between MPD and Cincinnati-based First Vehicle Services.
The contract, which would have been automatically approved in 10 days if not for Barry’s measure, is for management and maintenance of police vehicles.
“The council disapproves the contract because there is a need to re-evaluate the commitment of this government to local businesses, which have the capacity to perform such services as contemplated by this contract,” according to the resolution, which requires a vote of the full council within 45 days to pass.
The contract with First Vehicle Services, a one-year deal with four one-year options, was first signed in 2002.
If reapproved, the contract would enter its last option year on Oct. 1. Next year, the deal would be put to competitive bid, and qualified local, small and disadvantaged businesses would automatically get first crack.
First Vehicle Services performs most preventative maintenance, inspections and repairs on MPD vehicles.
It also outsources some work, such as automatic transmission, glass replacement and body repairs, to local businesses, including the Aamco Transmission on Bladensburg Road, Northeast.
“It’s not every day; it’s not every week,” said Aamco manager Jon “Big Jon” Smith.
“But we get some of their vehicles and we’re tried and trusted. It’s a good combination. To lose that would not be good,” he said.
Barry did not return calls for comment to further explain why he introduced the resolution.
While not familiar with the First Vehicle Services agreement, Council Member Kwame Brown said local businesses should always have first shot at government contracts.
“We’re in a crime emergency and we’re talking about jobs and things that should be preventative, so I don’t see why we aren’t looking at local businesses,” said Brown, who chairs a special committee on local small and disadvantaged businesses.
