From:                              Ron Cretaro [rcretaro@ctnonprofits.org]

Sent:                               Thursday, October 07, 2010 10:47 AM

To:                                   Dakers, Robert; peter.debiasi@accessagency.org

Cc:                                   Simmat, Susan

Subject:                          New study on government contracting - problems and solutions for CT

 

Dear Bob and Peter,

 

I am forwarding you links to several reports released today by two national organizations.  Nonprofits in Connecticut were surveyed as part of the study.  We believe there is useful information to aid the work of the Commission within these studies.

 

Regards,

 

Ron

 

 

CT Association of Nonprofits would like to share with you two reports released earlier today by the Urban Institute and the National Council of Nonprofits regarding government contracting with nonprofit human services providers. Both reports highlight significant problems in Connecticut’s government contracting system.

 

The Urban Institute’s report, Human Service Nonprofits and Government Collaboration: Findings from the 2010 National Survey of Nonprofit Government Contracting and Grants (full report; report brief; state-specific data – CT data found on page 21), demonstrates that CT is ranked in the top 10 worst states in three significant areas of government contracting.

 

Key Connecticut Findings and What They Mean:

  • CT ranks as the 3rd worst state for problems and concerns with late contract payments (beyond contract specifications). This means that nonprofits are providing services under contract with the state and having to wait to get paid, which creates significant cash flow problems. A 2009 CT Nonprofits’ report shows that some providers wait upwards of 90 days to receive state payments.
  • CT ranks as the 7th worst state for government payments not covering the full cost of contracted services. Three out of four nonprofits (75%) indicated that government contracts limit the amount of organizational indirect costs (e.g.: administrative costs, rent, utilities, etc.) that will be reimbursed; thus forcing the nonprofit to spend more time raising private donations and less time providing direct care.
  • CT ranks as the 8th worst state for government making changes midstream to contracts/grants. Nonprofits in CT are well versed with signing a contract for one deliverable or amount of money and having that changed midway through the year.
  • CT ranks in the top 10 best states for having simplified contracting and reporting procedures. While CT state government has taken positive steps towards creating some standard procedures, there is still work to be done to have consistent practices and adherence to those practices across all state agencies.

 

CT Nonprofits Calls on Nonprofit Community, Policymakers to Take Action:

·         Partnering to support CT: Nonprofits and CT state government must establish a cooperative relationship through which we both, as partners, work through practical, procedural, and fiscal problems and together develop solutions that ensure people get the services they need when they need them, that taxpayers receive full value for the programs they are funding, and that communities are strengthened. A 2010 CT Nonprofits’ report discusses several ways in which nonprofits and state government can strengthen our partnership.

  • Leadership: The residents of the State deserve a government that is held to the highest standards of accountability, efficiency, and compliance with the laws. The Governor and all constitutional officers of the State must commit to providing the leadership necessary to enforce the contracting laws already on the books, including prompt payment requirements, and to hold agency heads accountable for improving the performance of their agencies.
  • Integrated Procurement System: The State should consolidate the contracting, oversight and payment functions into an integrated procurement system. Designed correctly, an integrated system would enhance public transparency, cost effectiveness and time efficiency. An advanced model of a highly integrated system is being developed in Florida (MyFloridaMarketPlace) that automates the State’s order, approval, invoicing, and payment processes. Other successful models are being utilized in Virginia (eVA) and Wisconsin (VendorNet).

 

Further Reading:

In conjunction with the release of the Urban Institute's survey results, the National Council of Nonprofits issued a Special Report, Costs, Complexification, and Crisis: Government’s Human Services Contracting “System” Hurts Everyone, that provides additional context to the Urban Institute findings, including identifying specific practices that contribute to the problems nonprofit human services providers have experienced. The National Council’s report also explains how the contracting problems affect people receiving services and entire communities, and proposes solutions that nonprofits and government officials can adopt to improve services for individuals, restore value for taxpayers, and strengthen communities.

 

We hope that you will take time to learn about the challenges facing CT’s nonprofit human services delivery system and work with us to make meaningful change that will benefit those we serve.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ron Cretaro

Executive Director

CT Association of Nonprofits

(860) 525-5080