By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
Recently, I decided to review a contracting opportunity issued by Columbus City Schools.
Not submit a bid.
Not compete for a contract.
Not register as a vendor.
I simply wanted to read the solicitation.
I never made it that far.
Instead, I was redirected to a third-party website and instructed to create an account before I could even view the district’s procurement documents.
That made me stop and ask a simple question:
Why should a business owner need a username and password just to see how public dollars are being spent?
Public contracting should be one of the most transparent functions of government. Every taxpayer funds it, and every qualified business should have a fair opportunity to compete for it.
Yet before many businesses can even determine whether a project fits their capabilities, they are asked to register with a third-party platform.
For some businesses, that’s no big deal.
For others, it’s another barrier.
Over the years, I’ve worked with thousands of small businesses—many of them Black-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and first-time government contractors. One thing I’ve learned is that every additional step in the procurement process reduces participation.
Another username.
Another password.
Another account to manage.
Another reason to say, “I’ll deal with it later.”
Sometimes “later” never comes.
Curious about how Columbus City Schools arrived at this process, I submitted a public records request seeking the district’s contract, purchase orders, invoices, procurement records, and payment history related to the Public Purchase platform.
The response was surprising.
According to the district, no public records exist.
The Public Records Office stated there are no contracts, no purchase orders, no invoices, no procurement documents, and no payments because Public Purchase is “free software” used by the district.
I don’t question the response.
But it raises additional questions.
If the platform is free, how was it selected?
Who approved its use?
What analysis was performed before requiring businesses to access contracting opportunities through a third-party website?
How does the district determine whether the platform is achieving its intended purpose?
Two weeks ago, I emailed Superintendent Angela Chapman seeking clarification. As of this writing, I have not received a response.
My questions remain.
Why doesn’t Columbus City Schools post its solicitations directly on its own website, where every business and every taxpayer can review them without creating another account?
If a business isn’t already registered with Public Purchase, how does that business learn about contracting opportunities?
More importantly, how does the district measure whether its procurement process is expanding competition?
Does Columbus City Schools know:
- How many vendors are registered?
- How many are local businesses?
- How many are Black-owned businesses?
- How many are women-owned businesses?
- How many businesses download bid documents?
- How many vendors actually submit bids?
- How many first-time vendors has the system attracted?
- Has the district evaluated whether this platform is the most effective way to reach Ohio’s business community?
These aren’t “gotcha” questions.
They’re basic performance questions.
Every public procurement system should be able to demonstrate whether it is increasing competition, improving access, and creating opportunities for businesses of every size.
If those measurements exist, they should be easy to share.
If they don’t exist, perhaps it’s time to start asking whether the current process is accomplishing what the district intends.
This isn’t about one software platform.
It’s about access.
Public procurement should invite participation, not discourage it.
The easier it is for businesses to discover opportunities, the more competition taxpayers receive.
More competition often means better pricing.
Better pricing means better stewardship of public dollars.
For years, Columbus City Schools has spoken about its commitment to supplier diversity and expanding opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Those commitments are important. But access begins with visibility.
Businesses shouldn’t have to wonder where opportunities are posted.
They shouldn’t have to create another account before deciding whether they even want to pursue a project.
And they certainly shouldn’t need a username and password simply to read a public solicitation.
If we truly want more businesses competing for public contracts, we should remove barriers—not add them.
Because the front door to public procurement should be open to everyone.
Not hidden behind a login screen.
just my thoughts…rwb
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