The City of Richmond has completed the initial reset of its p-card program and has begun the steps necessary for a wholesale reevaluation of the program. Since the original announcement on April 30, the Department of Procurement Services (DPS) has reduced the number of p-cards by 79%, bringing the total number of active p-cards to just 67, from 320.  

Over the next 60-90 days, DPS will reevaluate and redesign the City’s p-card system, in line with an audit from the City Auditor’s office and an independent assessment from the NIGP (the Institute for Public Procurement). Based on those recommendations, DPS will begin revising City procurement policies and procedures and will train staff on proper implementation and use. 

During the program reset: 

• The only allowable p-card purchases will be those where public health, safety, and critical services would be disrupted if not allowed or where no other payment option exists. 
• No travel-related purchases will be permitted on p-cards. City employees will follow the existing travel advance/reimbursement policy. 
• No Amazon purchases will be permitted on p-cards. 
• No food purchases will be permitted on p-cards (excepting mission-critical, citizen-supporting programs like summer food programs or after-school programs). 
• Department directors will no longer be issued p-cards, allowing directors to better focus on approval of purchases. 

The City of Richmond will continue to update the public as progress is made towards a new and improved p-card infrastructure