The City of Portland distributed a total of $798 million to businesses and contractors over the financial year that ended June 30, 2021, according to the newly released Procurement Division annual report. These contracts represent goods and services, professional services and construction projects purchased over a very atypical year. Though steeped in challenges, 2020-2021 also provided the City with many opportunities to support the Portland community and introduce a new financial leader to City Hall.
For the first time in the City’s history, the Emergency Coordination Center was fully activated for the duration of an entire fiscal year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several emergency declarations enabled Procurement to execute emergency-related contracts quickly. Over $4 million was spent on food security programs through Lunch + Play, food boxes, PDX CARES cards, culturally specific foods and meals for people experiencing houselessness.
A total of $113.4 million was spent on the City’s construction projects, which ranged in scope from small repairs to major capital improvement projects. One construction project that will be nearing completion soon is the Outer Division Safety Project, which has been referred to as one of the most dangerous transportation corridors in Portland. This project represents $7.5 million worth of infrastructure improvements that will drastically reduce traffic-related accidents.
Despite obvious nationwide economic setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City still managed to achieve some record-breaking successes in equity. A total of 12 percent of the City’s prime contractor and subcontractor construction contract payments went to Men of Color, a 2 percent increase from the prior fiscal year. The total number of construction contract payments made to firms formally certified as being owned by People of Color and women was 29 percent, which represents a 3 percent increase over the two prior years and sets a new City record. The percent of construction payments made to firms owned by Women of Color, however, remained flat at 2 percent.
Another substantial Procurement achievement last year was the selection of the City’s new Chief Procurement Officer. After the City conducted a national search, Biko Taylor was selected to assume the new role and began leading the Procurement Division in summer 2021. Among other priorities Taylor is committed to advocating for small, minority-owned businesses and feels that supporting businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and other People of Color will make Portland stronger.
Read the full FY 2020-21 Procurement Annual report to learn more.