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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESPONSIBLE OPERATIONS FOR COMPENSATION IN CONTRACTING (ROCC)
WHEREAS, Cook County strives to create an environment attractive for small local businesses to perform as both prime and subcontractors on Cook County contracts; and
WHEREAS, creating a more streamlined operation for processing payments to Cook County vendors will serve to make Cook County a more attractive business partner to small local businesses which will foster economic growth; and
WHEREAS, streamlining operation for processing payments for Cook County vendors will also benefit Women-,Minority-, Veteran, Service-disabled Veteran-, and Persons with a Disability-Owned Business Enterprises, including facilitating those certified businesses to perform as prime vendors; and
WHEREAS, this Responsible Operations for Compensation in Contracting (ROCC) Resolution shall serve as a commitment of this administration to improve Cook County payment processes to avoid creating an undue burden on all Cook County vendors, but particularly those small local businesses owned by underutilized and disadvantaged owners.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The President and the Board of Commissioners call for implementing upgrades and modernizing contractor payment processes across Cook County government to increase efficiency, create transparency and accountability; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such improvements shall include offering training and making available presentations for vendors of Cook County to submit payment applications to decrease the turnaround time for processing pay applications; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Cook County shall endeavor to create an electronic invoice submittal and payment tracking system from date of invoice through payment that will foster transparency and accountability between vendors and Cook County, to ensure that all Cook County contactors are paid within 30-days of submission of a complete and accurate pay application; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer shall review potential opportunities to modify the County’s general contract conditions to include additional contract language that requires vendors to invoice their goods and services consistently and with all required documentation to periodically update their statements of work to expedite the payment processing time, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Bureau of Finance of Cook County shall provide a quarterly report to the Board of Commissioners on the payment cycle to Cook County contractors
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