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DAS presents disparity study, roadmap and bill to expand small‑business procurement
Summary
Department of Administrative Services officials presented a disparity study showing a gap between available Oregon small businesses and state contracting, outlined a one‑year implementation roadmap with 29 recommendations, and said a proposed House bill would create a race‑neutral certification and small‑business procurement program.
Deputy Director Debbie Dennis of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services told the General Government Subcommittee on March 19 that the department’s Office of Procurement Equity completed a disparity study and is implementing a roadmap of recommendations while pursuing a House bill to establish a small‑business procurement program.
The disparity study, conducted by BBC Research & Consulting from October 2022 through November 2023, analyzed about $3.18 billion in state spending from 2017–2022. The report found that businesses owned by women and people of color accounted for roughly 33.9% of the available marketplace but received about 10.9% of the contract dollars awarded during the study period, a gap the department said warrants a sustained program of outreach, data improvements and policy change.
Dennis said the office has 29 recommendations to implement and has stood up program teams to carry out outreach, data management and policy work. “We have a long road map ahead of us,” she said,…
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