King County Executive Order provides support for MWBEs

WA News - Published May 18, 2021

King County Executive Dow Constantine has issued an Executive Order which aims to make it easier for minority- and woman-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) to contract with the County.

The Order consists of a number of measures which have the goal of enhancing the County's existing race- and gender-netural Contracting and Opportunities Program (set up for the benefit of small businesses in general) into one that is "pro-equity" and makes new provision for encouraging MWBE program. These measures include: conducting a disparity study on the utilization of MWBEs in County contracting; allowing state-certified MWBEs to be reciprocally certified by the County as small contractors and suppliers (or SCS firms); implementing stronger reporting requirements on County agencies of the SCS, MWBE, and DBE usage; ensuring that informal bidding processes for orders under $50,000 include at least one of three quotes from an SCS or MWBE; ensuring all SCS firms are registered in the new County online system, with the goal of allowing for superior tracking and notification abilities; encouraging unbundling in contracting; and more.

"This executive order ensures every county agency focuses on increasing minority- and women-owned businesses when seeking private-sector partners," said Constantine in a statement.

Read the County's press release at https://kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2021/May/05-pro-equity-contracting.aspx.

Read the Order at https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/operations/policies/documents/ProEquityContractingCON-7-28-EO.ashx?la=en.