Fort Pierce advances procurement code rewrite to second reading after debate over protest windows and ethics safeguards

The Fort Pierce City Commission on July 6 advanced a comprehensive change to the city's procurement code to a second reading while asking staff to refine protest timelines and public‑facing guidance.

Deputy City Manager Camille Wallace walked the commission through 15 highlighted topics in the draft ordinance, describing updates that bring the code closer to state practice and add new enforcement tools. Key changes in the rewrite include: mirroring statutory exemptions (interlocal agreements, medical services, real property); raising direct purchase thresholds (department directors up to $2,500; city manager authority up to $50,000 without commission approval); formalizing sole‑source and sole‑brand purchases with posting and written determinations; explicit authorization of cooperative and piggyback procurement; a stricter cone‑of‑silence during solicitations; expanded suspension and debarment authority (suspension up to 12 months and debarment up to 5 years per violation); and creation of a procurement director position with dedicated training requirements.

The most contested point in discussion concerned protest procedures. The draft shortens the time to file a formal protest from 10 days to 5 days, and limits who may sign a protest; some commissioners argued 5 days is too short for many parties, especially non‑lawyers. Commissioners asked staff to consider a 7‑day compromise (calendar days rather than business days) and to clarify the two‑step protest process (notice of intent followed by the formal protest). Officials also debated whether to permit electronic filing and how to ensure receipt (staff explained the preference for in‑person/paper filings was to guarantee notice and receipt but conceded an electronic, tracked submission option merits evaluation).

Commissioners stressed the need for public vendor education and an FAQ that explains the protest process, timeline rules (calendar vs. business days), cone‑of‑silence restrictions, and the new suspension/debarment authority. City Manager Chess and commissioners said the changes will improve fairness, reduce procurement risk, and protect taxpayer dollars but emphasized careful roll‑out and vendor outreach before the new code goes into effect.

The commission moved the ordinance to a second reading and directed staff to return with clarified language and public‑facing materials.

Next steps: staff to revise protest timing language (considering a 7‑day compromise), prepare FAQs and outreach plans, and present the ordinance for a second reading with the shared comments addressed.