Nashville Mayor Karl Dean signed into law today an ordinance meant to level the playing field for businesses interested in contracting with the city.
Two studies in recent years show nearly all firms holding city contracts are owned by white males.
Jeff Gossage is over purchasing for Metro. The non-discrimination law requires his office and its contractors to show documentation of their efforts to include minority and women-owned firms. Gossage says, however, no one is complaining to him about the added information and effort needed to answer a request for proposals or RFP.
“I have not heard from suppliers at all, to somewhat of my surprise on that. It should not impact the schedule of the development of RFPs but it will be an additional step that was not present before.”
Gossage says it shouldn’t take any longer to issue contracts. The non-discrimination law goes into effect in 120 days.
It covers only Metro General Services and not Metro Schools or the Development and Housing Authority. General Services, alone, awards 250-to-300-million dollars in contracts each year to outside firms.
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