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File #: 21-6505    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Transmittal Status: Accepted
File created: 11/16/2021 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 11/30/2021 Final action: 11/30/2021
Title: Transmittal by the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity of an update on M/WBE Program Design to describe how the DEEO is implementing the program for the County.
Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Department Head/Elected Official: Pamela Chan, Executive Director

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Report

Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Participation (if applicable): N/A

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Transmittal by the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity of an update on M/WBE Program Design to describe how the DEEO is implementing the program for the County.
...end

Background and Discussion:
The Order of the Commissioners Court passed November 10, 2020 adopted an M/WBE program framework as the basis for an M/WBE Program to be designed, implemented, and managed by the Director of the Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity, subject to necessary approvals by the Harris County Attorney's Office. In the Court's discussion for the item, there was a request for the DEEO to provide "something back" to the Court on the program because the Order passed before the DEEO was operational and the framework could not reflect the department's organizational structure and operations.

Since the Order passed, the County began a soft launch of the M/WBE Program using the program framework under the Purchasing Department's leadership. The DEEO started in January 2021 and in standing up, the department reviewed the framework and identified areas for refinement and alignment with insights gained from the soft launch. The department also set a timeline for the activities to formally launch the M/WBE Program under the DEEO's leadership. This memo and M/WBE Program Design describe how the department is implementing the program policy and an associated operational timeline. It fulfills the Court's written and verbal orders from November 10, 2020 and provides the formal public communication on how the DEEO is implementing the M/WBE Program.

Expected Impact:
1. The memo provides clarity in commitments from the DEEO on launch, implemen...

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