Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to modify an existing contract with Mason Tillman Associates, LTD for a post disparity study implementation. The post disparity study will define race and gender conscious and neutral recommendations, draft a Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) ordinance embodying preferred program components, produce a MWBE Program Manual detailing procedures to implement the MWBE ordinance and create a MWBE Staff Training Manual. The findings of this study will guide and inform ODI's work to ensure fairness, equity, and inclusion in the city's procurement practices. This modification is necessary to add additional funds to the contract to conduct a post disparity study and to effectively implement the recommendations set forth in the study.
Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd is a nationally recognized African American owned consulting firm that has conducted disparity studies for numerous cities throughout the country. They have conducted more than 134 studies which represent roughly 30 percent of the disparity studies completed since Croson was decided on January 23, 1989.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes a transfer within the general fund of $160,000 and an expenditure of $161,500.00 from the General Fund with Mason Tillman Associates, LTD for a modification to the disparity study contract. Previous ordinance 0075-2017 authorized $435,275.00 for the disparity study. Ordinance 3372-2018 authorized $250,000.00. The total for all three ordinances (including this request) is $846,775.00, an increase of $161,500.00.
Emergency action is requested so that the post disparity study can be finalized as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to modify an existing contract with Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. for conducting a post disparity study implementation; to authorize the transfer of $160,000.00 ...
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