Portsmouth staff outline MWBE policy after disparity study; council debates penalties, incentives and data gaps

City Manager Carter introduced a proposed minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) policy Monday, saying the city’s 2023 disparity study showed persistent gaps in how Portsmouth awards contracts and that the policy is intended to increase minority and women business participation in city procurement.

The manager said the 2023 study “revealed that these disparities still persist, particularly in key procurement categories, such as construction and professional services,” and recommended race‑ and gender‑conscious measures and a framework of aspirational goals, compliance monitoring and outreach.

The report and staff presentation did not require council action at the meeting; Carter described the session as an introduction for new council members and said formal approval of a policy would come later. “There’s no action required of you on what we’re providing tonight,” Carter said. “This is really, more so for our new council members, an opportunity to see what it is, hear from the staff as to what it’s all about.”

Why it matters: The disparity study — completed 10 years after an earlier 2013 review — found large differences between the availability…