Disparity Study Launches Fall 2023
The City of Tacoma plans to begin conducting a disparity study in the Fall of 2023, for its Equity in Contracting (EIC) Program. The study will be based on five years of historical data, from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022, plus data form the post-December 2019 time period measuring the impacts of Covid-19.
The City desires to undertake all necessary and reasonable steps to lawfully ensure that Minority and Women-Owned Enterprises (MWBEs) are afforded equitable opportunities to participate in local government contracting within the relevant marketplace from which the City routinely purchases significant quantities of goods and services.
The City is interested in ensuring that its public contracting and purchasing funds are not spent in a manner that in any way contributes to, or perpetuates, the effects of marketplace discrimination.
Businesses and Interested Individuals Asked to Provide Input
Business owners and other interested individuals can provide input throughout the 2024 Economic Disparity Study process on the study's website, by emailing tacomawadisparity2024@keenindependent.com or calling (602) 704-0125.
Community members with questions about the 2024 Economic Disparity Study process may email City of Tacoma Equity in Contracting and Workforce Programs Manager Kacee Woods at kwoods@cityoftacoma.org.
For additional information on the 2024 Economic Disparity Study, please view the associated fact sheet and study website which are linked below.
2023 Economic Disparity Study Fact Sheet
2023 Economic Disparity Study Website
Current status as of June 2024:
|
TASK
|
COMPLETION TO DATE
|
1
|
Project administration and meetings
|
80%
|
2
|
Legal framework and analysis
|
100%
|
3
|
Review of City’s purchasing policies and procedures
|
80%
|
4
|
Review of City’s Equity in Contracting Program
|
80%
|
5
|
Prime contract and subcontract data collection
|
100%
|
6
|
Relevant geographic market area subindustries
|
100%
|
7
|
Availability analysis
|
90%
|
8
|
Utilization analysis
|
90%
|
9
|
Disparity analysis
|
50%
|
10
|
Quantitative analysis of marketplace conditions
|
80%
|
11
|
Qualitative analysis of marketplace conditions
|
98%
|
12
|
Analysis of remedies and recommendations
|
0%
|
13
|
Reports and presentations
|
70%
|