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California DGS to conduct statewide MWBE, LGBTQ disparity study

The California Department of General Services (DGS) is conducting a disparity study into conditions faced by minority-owned, woman-owned, LGBTQ-owned, certified small businesses, and disabled veteran-owned businesses who attempt to work with DGS. If the study finds disparities in the utilization of small and diverse businesses relative to their availability, it will make recommendations for remedying these disparities, and will form part of the legal basis on which the remedies rest.

The study will examine contracts let by DGS from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023. The study's methods will include quantitative analysis of contract data, but will also include a broad spectrum of public outreach engagement methods. A series of public meetings are planned, some in-person and some virtual, at which DGS will gather testimony from businesses who have done, or attempted to do, business with DGS, about obstacles they may have encountered in the process. There is also an official website for the study (linked below) at which members of the public may take an online business survey to provide input, as well as schedule a one-on-one interview at which they will have a chance to provide feedback.

The final study is currently to be completed and posted online the DGS's website by December of 2025. Additional information on the disparity study may be gathered by telephone at (510) 607-8353, and by email at cadgsdisparitystudy@mtaltd.com.

Find the dedicated page for the disparity study (complete with registration forms for meetings and links for the survey and the interview scheduler) at https://cadgsdisparitystudy.org/.

Download a list of frequently asked questions relating to the study in PDF format at https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion-List/Statewide-Supplier-Diversity-Program/Statewide-Supplier-Diversity-Program (expand the heading for "Statewide Procurement & Contracting Disparity Study" and find the link at the end of the second paragraph).