Drafter
Clerk 03/09/2020
Title
A MOTION extending the waiver of requirements for competitive bidding and solicitation requirements for contracts relating to the King County COVID-19 response.
Body
WHEREAS, the King County executive on March 1, 2020, issued a proclamation of emergency, included as Attachment A to this motion, declaring that extraordinary measures must be taken in response to the spread of COVID-19 in King County and to immediately preserve public health and relieve loss, hardship and suffering, and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the authority granted the executive upon issuing a proclamation of emergency, the executive ordered that the public advertising and competitive procurement requirements of state law and K.C.C. chapter 2.93, all applicable executive policies and procedures and K.C.C. chapter 12.19, are waived relating to county contracts for purchases or leases of: tangible personal property; public works as defined by RCW 39.04.010; and services, including professional or technical services, and
WHEREAS, under K.C.C. 2.93.080.B. and K.C.C. 12.52.030.C., the waiver of competitive procurement requirements of state and county law stays in effect until it expires, which shall be twenty-one calendar days after its issuance, unless terminated sooner by order of the executive or action of the council by motion. However, the council, by motion, may extend a waiver beyond the twenty-one-day period, and
WHEREAS, as of March 9, 2020, one hundred sixteen people in King County have been diagnosed with and twenty people have died from COVID-19, and
WHEREAS, given the nature of COVID-19 as a novel coronavirus, the Report of the World Health Organization-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 acknowledges that there are critical knowledge gaps about the virus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that if a COVID-19 outbreak happens in a community, "it could last for long time," and
WHEREAS, an extension of the waiver from the competitive procurement requirements is necessary as it is clear that this emergency will not be resolved by March 22, 2020 and the ability to procure quickly the goods and services necessary to stem the transmission of COVID-19 will be critical;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The waiver from competitive bidding and solicitation requirements of state and county law as set forth in the March 1, 2020, proclamation of emergency issued by the
executive is extended until either the executive terminates the proclamation of the emergency or the council by motion terminates this waiver.