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The City of Portland ordains:

Section 1.  The Council finds:

1. The City of Portland (City) is committed to equity in contracting and increasing economic opportunities through inclusive contracting practices.
2. On June 17, 2020, the Council approved Resolution 37492, adopting the City’s Core Values of Anti-racism, Equity, Transparency, Communication, Collaboration, and Fiscal Responsibility.
3. Through social equity in contracting programs the City encourages fair and equitable contracting for firms owned by Black, Indigenous, and people of color and women- owned firms.
4. Social equity in contracting programs currently in place include: Community Opportunities and Enhancement Program (COEP); Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) and Community Equity and Inclusion Plan (CEIP); Diversity Equity and Inclusion Plan (DEIP), Prime Contractor Development Program (PCDP); Subcontractor Equity Plan (SEP); Workforce Training & Hiring Program (WTHP); Good Faith Efforts (GFE); and the Minority Evaluator Program, (MEP).
5. In 1995, the City and (the) Portland Development Commission (PDC) (now Prosper Portland), took part in the Oregon Regional Consortium Disparity Study that examined public construction contracting methods. The 1995 Oregon Regional Consortium Disparity Study concluded that minority and women-owned businesses were underutilized at the prime-contracting level. The 1995 Oregon Regional Consortium Disparity Study also made a series of recommendations that resulted in the City's adoption of a Fair Contracting and Employment Strategy.
6. In April 2009, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued to update the 1995 Oregon Regional Consortium Disparity Study, and a contract was awarded to BBC Research & Consulting to perform a disparity study for the City and PDC.
7. In August 2009, Council approved Ordinance No. 183122 which authorized a contract with BBC Research & Consulting in the amount of $831,000 (reference City of Portland Contract No. 30000815) to provide an in-depth review of the City’s and PDC' s fair contracting practices, called the 2009 Disparity Study.
8. On January 6, 2010, Council approved Ordinance No. 183432 which authorized an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Portland Development Commission for the funding and administration of the 2009 Disparity Study. 
9. The BBC Research & Consulting study team began the assignment in the fall of 2009.  Research was conducted on procurement and contracting procedures and Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business (M/W/ESB) programs, utilization, availability, and disparities, examining a five-year contracting period from July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2009
10. BBC Research & Consulting presented a draft report to the City and PDC in January 2011.   The City accepted and published the City of Portland Disparity Study Final Report in June 2011.
11. Over a decade has passed since the 2009 Disparity Study was published.  It behooves Council to authorize the Chief Procurement Officer to procure disparity study for the City that includes the analysis of current contracting data, and the City’s existing social equity in contracting programs. 
12. A new disparity study is needed to support the City’s ongoing work of eradicating systemic barriers that over many years have created deep economic inequities for firms owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and women-owned firms.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

1. That the Chief Procurement Officer is authorized to conduct a competitive solicitation process in accordance with Portland City Code (PCC) for a disparity study, and subsequently to negotiate, award and execute a contract in accordance with PCC 5.33.040, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, provided the contract has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
2. The Mayor and Auditor are hereby authorized to draw and deliver checks chargeable to Bureau of Revenue and Financial Services when demand is presented and approved by the proper authorities.