The study will examine:

• Small and Local Business Enterprise Utilization (the percentage of contract and procurement dollars the City spent with small and local business enterprises between July 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024); and

• Small and Local Business Enterprise Availability (the percentage of dollars small and local business enterprises might be expected to receive based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of contracts and procurements).

The study will also provide information related to:

• Marketplace conditions for small and local business enterprises;

• Contracting practices and business assistance programs the City currently has in place; and

• Recommendations related to policies and programs the City may implement to encourage the participation of small and local business enterprises in its work.

Please check back periodically for updates on the major study activities.

• Project initiation - Complete. The study kicked off in January 2025 with a series of meetings to refine study objectives, plan for community engagement, and begin diving into the City’s contracting and procurement data.

• Data preparation and collection – In Progress. In January 2025, the City began working with its research partner to assess the quality of its current data and determine additional data needs.  The project team will continue working with the City to collect any necessary data on contracts, procurements, awards, and suppliers to ensure the study is comprehensive and valid.

• Community engagement sessions – Complete. The project team will conduct a series of community engagement sessions. During the sessions, the City and its research partners will present information about the contracting equity study, answer questions, and ask participants to share insights regarding their experiences working in the San Francisco marketplace. Missed the community engagement sessions? See the "How can I participate in the study?" question below to learn more about other ways you can participate.

• Availability surveys – Starting Summer 2025. The project team has started conducting surveys with businesses in the relevant geographic market area that perform work relevant to City contracts and procurements. The surveys will be conducted by Davis Research. Your business may be contacted by phone numbers starting with 415-366, 415-231, 415-376, or 415-463. The caller ID will read “SF Contracting.” If we contact your business, please participate in the survey process to help ensure accurate and comprehensive analyses!

• Relevant product markets and geography – Starting Summer 2025. The project team will analyze data to identify the subindustries that account for the majority of the City’s contracting and procurement dollars as well as the neighborhoods and districts most relevant to that work.

The contracting equity study will examine construction, professional services, commodities, and general services contracts awarded by the City between July 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024.

The study has a target completion date between late 2025 to early 2026.

Yes, the results of the contracting equity study will be made public at the end of the process.

If you missed any of our community engagement sessions, you can still submit comments you may have about your experiences working in the San Francisco marketplace, working with the City, or about the contracting equity study. We are particularly interested in:

• Potential barriers businesses face in being successful or growing in the San Francisco marketplace;
  

• Contracting opportunities with the City or other government agencies;
  

• Business assistance programs the City or other government agencies currently use;
  

• Any recommendations for additional business assistance programs the City could consider implementing; and
  

• Questions or thoughts you have about the Contracting Equity Study.

Your comments will be integrated into the project team’s analyses of marketplace conditions after removing any identifying information.

E-mail your comments directly to the project team at  SFContractingEquity@bbcresearch.com.

BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) BBC is a 55-year-old economic and diversity research firm based in Denver, Colorado that will serve as the prime consultant on the 2025 Contracting Equity Study. The firm has completed more than 150 disparity studies for states, cities, universities, and other government agencies across the country. BBC is also considered a national expert in helping agencies develop and refine their implementation of small and disadvantaged business programs. The firm has provided expert testimony related to disparity studies and business programs on several different occasions, most recently as part of the successful defense of the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans’) implementation of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, which was based in large part on a 2007 BBC disparity study. For more information about BBC, please visit www.bbcresearch.com.

Primary contacts:

• Sameer Bawa
  BBC Managing Director
  303-321-2547, ext. 247
  sbawa@bbcresearch.com
• Betsy Sava
  Project Manager
  303-321-2547, ext. 244
  bsava@bbcresearch.com

IRML Consulting (IRML) IRML is a San Francisco-based, Micro LBE-certified consulting firm specializing in advancing diversity, equity, and small business opportunities by creating programs for historically disadvantaged individuals and communities. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, IRML is a leader in developing and implementing policies and programs to engage emerging and existing businesses. The firm is dedicated to empowering POC-owned, woman-owned, and disadvantaged businesses by providing the tools and resources they need to navigate public- and private-sector contracting, implementing strategies for stakeholder engagement, and contractor relations to ensure client success. IRML’s services include networking and engagement; public relations and communications; diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy; and event planning. For the Contracting Equity Study, IRML will conduct in-depth interviews and focus groups with business owners and other stakeholders in the marketplace to collect anecdotal evidence about potential barriers navigating City procurement.

GCAP Services (GCAP) GCAP is a Hispanic American-owned, DBE, and Small Business-certified supportive services firm based in Costa Mesa and Sacramento, California. GCAP has substantial experience supporting organizations that implement small business and POC- and woman-owned business programs, helping them design their programs and monitor their impacts. GCAP’s staff has first-hand experience bringing innovation and best practices to small business and disadvantaged business programs, including in the areas of outreach and awareness; race-conscious and race-neutral programs; readiness assessment; program development and implementation; compliance, reporting, monitoring, and training; and data collection and analysis. For the Contracting Equity Study, GCAP will review policies and programs the organization has in place to identify any policies that might make it more difficult for local businesses to compete for and perform agency work. The firm will also take the lead on refining and designing policies and program measures to encourage the participation of local businesses in City work.

Davis Research Davis Research is a survey fieldwork firm based in Calabasas, California. Since its inception in 1970, it has grown to be one of the nation’s leading survey data collection firms. It consistently delivers sophisticated telephone and online surveys with seamless programming, supremely qualified surveyors, and a customized look and feel. In addition, it offers professional computer-aided telephone interviewing services from its industry-best call centers. The firm’s clients range from one-person consultancies to some of the world’s largest corporations. All of Davis Research’s clients value the intimate attention the firm gives each organization and the high-quality data it delivers. The firm has worked with BBC for the past 15 years on myriad research projects, including disparity studies for the California Department of Transportation, the City of San Diego, DC Government, the City of Boston, and the State of Indiana. For the CCSF Contracting Equity Study, Davis Research will conduct online and telephone surveys with hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses in the marketplace, which will serve as the basis for the utilization and availability analyses.