New Orleans has one.
Baton Rouge has one.
The city of Alexandria has contracted for one.
Guess who does NOT have one? Shreveport!
But on Oct. 13 the Shreveport City Council will vote on a resolution authorizing Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins to execute a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) for a disparity study.
The other parties to the CEA are the Caddo Parish School Board (CPSB), Caddo Parish and the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission (Port).
Funding for the study will be $150,000 from the city, $100,000 from the parish, and $50,000 from the Port. The CPSB is NOT providing any funding.
A disparity study reviews public procurement and contracting that adversely affects minorities including women.
The purpose is to satisfy a U.S. Supreme Court decision that requires governmental entities to establish a "compelling interest" to support the creation of contracting programs that specifically target minority and women-owned businesses.
The primary goal of the study is to assess, quantify and evaluate the prevalence, significance and scope of discrimination in the marketplace, if any, against minority and women-owned businesses. The study will examine the following:
The study will examine the following:
a. the percentage of dollars minorityand women-owned businesses actually received on prime contracts and subcontracts awarded by each governmental entity;
b. the percentage of dollars those businesses would be expected to receive based on their availability to perform the prime contracts and subcontracts;
c. legal considerations surrounding the implementation of minority and women business programs;
d. conditions in the local marketplace for minority and women owned businesses;
e. the current contracting and procurement policies and practices of each governmental entity;
f. potential program measures for consideration as part of each governmental entity's implementation of minority and women owned business programs.
Keen Independent Research conducted the studies for New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Keen has been contracted by Alexandria for its study.
The council is expected to approve execution of the CEA by Perkins.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE September 25 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.