Title
Resolution to Ensure Transparency, Non-discrimination, and Equal Opportunity in Municipal Contracting and Procurement Practices
Staff
Reviewed by: Michelle Landis, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Jennifer Richards, Assistant City Attorney
Body
Whereas, Entrenched disparities in our laws and public policies, and in our public and private institutions, have often denied equal opportunity to individuals and communities;
Whereas, In 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, which included a directive that the head of each agency assess "potential barriers that underserved communities and individuals may face in taking advantage of agency procurement and contracting opportunities;"
Whereas, Breaking down barriers in government procurement processes reduces the administrative burden on all businesses submitting bids and may ultimately help reduce prices by encouraging more bidders;
Whereas, Municipalities can benefit considerably from increased access to diverse vendors, who often bring fresh ideas, new approaches, demonstrate greater cultural competence, and may tap new talent within the community;
Whereas, It is impossible - without proper data, research and analysis - to understand whether systemic and structural barriers exist for women and minority-owned businesses within our municipal contracting and procurement practices;
Whereas, Collecting and analyzing the demographic data of prospective vendors who are bidding on and receiving government contracts is essential to understanding the proportion of bids received from women and minority-owned businesses, and whether additional outreach to and support for these businesses is necessary and essential to increase the diversity of bidders;
Whereas, Transparency in government procurement empowers public oversight of government practices;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor, being a govern...
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