District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD)

MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ASSESSMENT

The minority and women-owned businesses are a critical part of the District’s economic infrastructure. CRP conducted a comparative assessment of the District’s Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program to understand the effectiveness of the CBE sheltered market program, with a focus on minority- and women-owned CBEs. The goal of the assessment was to analyze the current state of businesses owned or controlled by minorities or women qualifying as CBEs and recommend ways to encourage businesses owned or controlled by minorities or women to compete in the District’s procurement process. CRP submitted a Minority Business Assessment Report to the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). Click here to access full report.

DISPARITY REPORT: FRAMEWORK AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

In fulfillment of a legislative mandate pursuant to the authority set forth in D.C. Code 2-214.01 (Establishment of the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Assessment Program), the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is required to conduct a disparity study to determine if statistically significant disparities exist in the utilization of minority and women business enterprises (M/WBEs) by District government agencies. A comprehensive disparity study includes multi-faceted reports detailing whether there is an absence of barriers that create disparities in the utilization or spending with businesses owned by minorities and women. CRP developed a framework report that outlined the procedures of a disparity study and recommendations on steps the District should take to produce the data required for a complete, scientifically sound, and legally defensible disparity study. CRP submitted a Disparity Framework Report to the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). Click here to access full report.