Title
Resolution Authorizing Contract # 2017-10469 to Griffin & Strong, P.C. for the 2017 MWBE Disparity Study
Body
Department: Executive
Council District: All
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Gwen Carter, M/WBE Program Coordinator 336-373-2674
Contact 2 and Phone: Barbara Harris, Assistant City Manager 336-373-2002
PURPOSE:
The City of Greensboro solicited the services of a qualified and experienced consultant to conduct an M/WBE and DBE disparity study. A disparity study determines whether there is a factual basis for the existence of the City’s council adopted M/WBE Program Plan. The disparity study will examine M/WBE and DBE availability in the Greensboro marketplace to determine whether there is a disparity between the availability of M/WBE and DBE firms and the utilization of such firms by the City of Greensboro.
The current council adopted program is based on a disparity study that examined contract data and practices during the five-year period from 2006 through 2010. The upcoming disparity study will review and analyze data from 2011 through at least 2015 with an expected completion date of January 2018. Legally-based recommendations for updates to the current M/WBE Program Plan will be provided to the City following the completion of the disparity study.
BACKGROUND:
On behalf of the Executive Department and M/WBE Office, the Centralized Contracting Division released a Request for Proposal solicitation in the online Greensboro Electronic Procurement System (GePS), Event #8302. Seven potential disparity study consulting firms, who were suggested by the M/WBE Office, were directly solicited. Vendors registered under professional services in the GePS system under professional services also received automatic email notifications of the contract opportunity. A total of six business enterprises submitted responsive proposals to the RFP. Of those responding business enterprises, none were M/WBE certified firms from the Greensboro ten-county region.
In accordance with the current council adopted M/WBE Program Plan, the proposals were reviewed by an evaluation panel that included M/WBE staff. The Centralized Contracting Division and Executive Department concur in their recommendation for the award of this contract. The recommended firm, Griffin and Strong, with offices located in Atlanta, Georgia, was selected following an evaluation of criteria identified in the RFP and is based on the best value standard of award. The firm plans to use several Greensboro M/WBE firms for sub-contracting opportunities on the project.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The contract is for a fixed cost in the amount of $299,320. Funding for the project is available in fiscal year 2016-17. To complete this process, two budget adjustments are required to a) move funding into the MWBE account, 101-0208-01.5413 and b) move current Water Resources funds into their business section account, 501-7011-01.5413.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Council is requested to approve a resolution authorizing contract # 2017-10469 for the 2017 MWBE Disparity Study.