Strategic Procurement Division
Prohibited Supplier Contributions
Blackout Period for Contributing to Elected City Officials' CampaignsPer Chapter 18, Section 36 of the City of Houston’s Code of Ordinances, it states: “It shall be unlawful for any contractor to contribute or offer any contribution to a candidate, or for any candidate to solicit or accept any contribution from a contractor during a contract award period. In the event that a candidate unknowingly accepts a contribution in contravention of the foregoing provision, it shall be the duty of the candidate to return the contribution within ten days after he becomes aware of the violation. As used in this section the term contract award period shall mean the period commencing at the time of posting of the city council meeting agenda including an item for the award of the contract and ending upon the 30th day after the award of the contract by city council or a determination by city council or the mayor that the contract will not be awarded to a contractor. As used in this section, the term contractor shall not include a subcontractor.”