Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Award
Project ID (if applicable): 250176
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Colette Holt & Associates
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 13.3%
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal is not 0% and is listed above
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of an award on the basis of lowest priced proposal meeting requirements and that the County Judge execute an agreement with Colette Holt & Associates for disparity study, enhanced program recommendations and other related services for Harris County for the period of February 12, 2026 - February 11, 2027 with four (4) one-year renewal options (250176), MWBE Contracted Goal: 13.3%.
end
Background and Discussion:
Harris County issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a qualified vendor to conduct an updated Disparity Study and provide enhanced program recommendations for the County’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program, as well as potential Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Veteran-Owned Business (VOB) programs. The study is required under existing County policy prior to the June 2026 sunset of the current M/WBE program and is necessary to ensure legal defensibility and continued compliance with applicable law.
Following a competitive evaluation process, Colette Holt and Associates were determined to be the best value to the County based on experience, proposed methodology, qualifications, and cost. Approval of this item will authorize the County to proceed with the study and maintain continuity of its supplier diversity programs.
Expected Impact:
Approval of this item will allow Harris County to initiate an updated, legally defensible Disparity Study that evaluates the availability and utilization of minority-, women-, small-, and veteran-owned businesses in County contracting. The study will provide data-driven findings, assess potential disparities, and identify any barriers to participation. Results will inform policy decisions, support compliance with legal requirements, and guide enhancements to the County’s M/WBE program and the potential development of SBE and VOB programs.
Alternative Options:
If this item is not approved, Harris County will be unable to proceed with the required Disparity Study prior to the June 2026 sunset of the current M/WBE program. Failure to complete the study may result in the expiration of the program, limit the County’s ability to implement or continue race- and gender-conscious measures, and increase legal risk due to the absence of updated, legally defensible findings. Additionally, delays could disrupt supplier diversity initiatives and hinder informed policy decision-making.
As an alternative, the Court may choose to take no action at this time; however, this option would delay completion of the study and may require re-solicitation, resulting in additional time and administrative costs.
County Strategic Plan Goal: N/A
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
08/07/25 |
351 |
Advertisement |
|
|
|
|
Location: N/A
Address (if applicable): Multiple
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
SD Admin and Data Analysis (20504140) |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
|
CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
|
CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 2/12/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Bryonne Cummings, Assistant Director, DEEO; Jeremy Woodard, Assistant Director, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter