Contracting requirements, approvals and waivers by agency

Read the requirements for common agency approvals, requirements, and waivers you may need for a contract.

Office of Contract Administration

Resources

Agency approvals

Submit a contract review request to OCA using ServiceNow

Departments must use OCA's Chapter 21 ServiceNow application to submit their contracts for OCA review and approval.

Request to waive City contracting requirements

Find out which contracting requirements you may waive and under what circumstances, and how to submit a waiver request.

Civil Service Commission requirements and applicability

Learn how to submit contracts with professional or general services for DHR or Civil Service Commission review.

Board of Supervisors requirements and applicability

Find out when you need to get contract approval from the Board of Supervisors.

Ethics Commission requirements and applicability

Find out when you need to notify the Ethics Commission about bids/proposals and contracts pursuant to Campaign & Government Conduct Code 1.126.

Contracting program requirements

Equal Benefits Program requirements and applicability

Review this document to determine when and if the Equal Benefits Program (Labor and Employment Code Article 131, formerly Admin. Code 12B) applies and if its requirements can be waived for your contract.

Local Business Enterprise Program requirements and applicability

Learn how to comply with the Local Business Enterprise (LBE) program (Administrative Code Chapter 14B).

Minimum Compensation Ordinance (MCO) requirements and applicability

Review this document to determine when and if MCO applies and if its requirements can be waived for your contract.

Health Care Accountability (HCAO) requirements and applicability

Review this document to determine when and if HCAO applies and if its requirements can be waived for your contract.

Prevailing Wage requirements and applicability

Find out when prevailing wage applies on a contract.

First Source Hiring Program (FSHP) requirements and applicability

Find out when contractors must fulfill FSHP requirements.

Sweatfree Purchasing requirements and applicability

Find out which purchases are subject to the City’s Sweatfree Purchasing law and how to comply.

Firearms and Ammunition purchasing requirements and applicability

Learn about the requirements and applicability of San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 21H when purchasing firearms and ammunition.

Gas-powered Landscaping Equipment purchasing requirements and applicability

Learn more about the ban on City purchase and use of gas-powered landscaping equipment under Administrative Code Chapter 12E.

Consideration of criminal history (Article 142, formerly 12T)

Effective January 1, 2026, LEC Article 142 was repealed by the Open for Business Contract Streamlining Act.

Technology-specific contracting requirements

Cybersecurity Risk Assessment (CRA), DT-CIO, and COIT-19B applicability

Learn more about the City’s Office of Cyber Security CRA, DT-CIO, and COIT-19B Review requirements and applicability.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA requirements and applicability

Find out if WCAG applies to your purchase, and if so, how to fulfill the requirements.

Content and Data Subscriptions guidance

Learn about the exemptions from certain contracting requirements for content and data subscription purchases.

Other contracting requirements and guidance

What to know when novating or assigning a contract

Learn more about the procedural rules around Novating and Assigning a contract here.

Contractual risk management guidance

Read this one-pager to learn more about the steps and strategies involved in contractual risk management.

Guidance on contracting with Government Entities

Learn about the exemptions from certain contracting requirements for agreements with other government entities.

“Core Initiatives” contracting guidance

Learn how to contract for goods and/or services that support “Core Initiatives” under Administrative Code Chapter 21B.