CALL TO ACTION:
AAREP Advocacy Results in Change to Language in Recently Released Request for Proposals by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to Incorporate “Equitable Development” and “Component Development.”
Please review the active and upcoming RFPs for opportunities!
Active Now:
https://dmped.dc.gov/node/748042
Upcoming:
https://dmped.dc.gov/page/reeves-center-0
Watch the DC Economic Recovery Team (DERT) Presentation on Equity here:
New RFP Language:
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT FOCUS
Equitable Development Process
Mayor Bowser has charged her entire administration with ensuring every Washingtonian gets a fair shot. The Mayor recognizes that the District is a powerful tool for investing in the economic vitality of residents and neighborhoods. As the District of Columbia continues to grow and change, the District’s investments and decisions will continue to play an important role in shaping the future of our city and providing opportunity to those who have historically been locked out of prosperity. Building the District of Columbia into a more inclusive and equitable city will not happen by chance, it will be the result of intentional decisions that are designed to overcome long-standing inequities, that reflect our shared DC values, and that provide Washingtonians across all eight wards every opportunity to rise.
In the interest of advancing access to opportunities to manage meaningful development activities, DMPED has designated this project as an instance to serve the dual purpose of promoting economic activity and facilitating equitable access to the opportunities afforded by development projects. Equitable access to meaningful opportunities for development, project management, and delivery is a critical pathway towards ensuring that the District’s growth reflects diverse needs and equitably benefits residents.
The District intends to take deliberate steps to assist small, local, and disadvantaged businesses and people to not just participate in larger opportunities but build the capacity necessary to lead and manage them in the future.
Equitable Inclusion Preferences
DMPED will prioritize Respondents that maximize by leadership and/or inclusion:
- Racial and ethnic minorities
- Other persons who are members of historically disadvantaged groups
Team Composition Priority
DMPED will prioritize Proposals that maximize, by percentage of ownership and control, entities designated as Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) and Resident-owned Business (“ROB”), or any entities (including non-profits and community institutions) led by, or majority controlled by, individuals designated as socially disadvantaged under the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) definition.
For projects with multiple parcels or components, the above prioritization can be met if the Proposal includes a parcel or component set aside, within the larger development plan, for a team lead by and majority owned by one of the persons described in the first paragraph of this section.