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Missouri executive order promotes contracting diversity

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has signed an executive order that implements a number of recommendations made by the state's Disparity Study Oversight Review Committee that are intended to provide minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) with greater access to contracting opportunities with the state.

"Missouri's rich diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and the executive order I signed today will help ensure that state government benefits from the skills and ingenuity of minority- and women-owned businesses in every corner of Missouri," Gov. Nixon said. "By giving these businesses the opportunity to compete for government contracts on a level playing-field, this executive order will promote greater diversity in government contracting and job creation in communities across the Show-Me State."

The executive order sets an overall M/WBE participation goal of 10 percent, respectively, and instructs the Office of Administration to take a number of steps to help integrate M/WBE into the public contracting process.

Among the responsibilities the Office of Administration is tasked with are:

• Administering an electronic contracting system that allows users to easily access contract opportunities and track the state's utilization of M/WBEs;
• Recruiting and certifying firms that are eligible for M/WBE status;
• Researching the feasibility of a Mentor-Protege program; and
• Educating M/WBE-eligible firms to the program.

For more information about Missouri's Disparity Study and the Oversight Committee, visit http://oa.mo.gov/disparity-study-information.