COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          11a 
BRIEFING ITEM                            Date of Meeting       April 16, 2024 
DATE:     April 9, 2024 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Dave McFadden, Managing Director, Economic Development Division 
Mian Rice, Director, Diversity in Contracting 
SUBJECT:  Diversity in Contracting 2023 Annual Report and Five-Year (2019-2023) Review 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
2023 Diversity in Contracting Annual Report 
The Diversity  in  Contracting  Annual  Report  to  the  Commission provides  the Port’s
division/department 2023 Women and Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) results from
administering affirmative efforts to assure equality of contracting opportunities.
2023 was the fifth full year of the Diversity in Contracting program operations in which Port
divisions and departments established WMBE utilization goals. In total spend, which includes
both construction and non-construction, 12.4% of the Port’s spend of $627M went to WMBE
firms ($77.7M) – short of the 2023 goal of 15% utilization, and on par with the 12.6% WMBE
utilization in 2022. 
In construction, where utilizations goals are established on a project-by-project basis, 2023 was
the second year the staff established a Port-wide goal. 9.2% of the Port’s construction spend of
$323.3M went to WMBE firms ($29.9M) - short of its 13% WMBE construction goal but
surpassing its 8.5% WMBE utilization in 2022. In non-construction, 15.7% of the Port’s spend of
$303.7M went to WMBE firms ($47.8M) - meeting its 15% goal for 2023 and showing a slight
decrease from the 16.4% WMBE utilization in 2022. 
The Port did exceed its five-year goal of tripling the number of WMBE businesses working with
the Port annually (354 WMBE firms by 2023) by having worked with 392 WMBE firms in 2023, a 
marked increase from 351 WMBE firms in 2022. 
The Port’s Diversity in Contracting goals for 2024 is 15% spend with WMBE firms and 400
WMBE firms utilized annually. At the same time, over the course of this gap year in the
Program, the Diversity in Contracting team is evaluating the program, drafting updates to the
policy, and engaging the community throughout. The goal is to have a first reading of an
updated Diversity in Contracting Resolution by the end of 2024 so that the Port can build on the
progress achieved over these past five years to eliminate, even more effectively, specific
disparities in utilization for certain ethnic groups and women.

Template revised April 12, 2018.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 2 of 7 
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024 

Diversity in Contracting Five-Year Review (2019-2023) 
In 2016, the Port began focusing on the diversity of businesses it partners with. In that year,
only 5.3% of the Port’s spend was with WMBE firms, and the Port partnered with only 118 firms
annually. In 2018, the Diversity in Contracting Policy Directive and Resolution was created,
leveraging the findings from 2016 to set the Program’s goals. The goals were to, within five
years of the Diversity in Contracting Program implementation, increase to 15% the total Port
spend with WMBE firms and triple the number of WMBE firms that the Port partners with to
reach 354 firms annually. The first full year of the program was 2019, with the five-year
benchmark concluding at the end of 2023.
This report provides the Port’s division/department Woman and Minority Business Enterprise
(WMBE) results over the five-year period. 
Over the five years of its implementation, Diversity in Contracting (DC) Policy Directive &
Resolution achieved its primary goal of increasing the utilization of WMBE firms on Port
contracts due to the Program’s internal and external affirmative efforts of establishing WMBE
aspirational goals on contracts, requiring inclusion plans, and bolstering outreach and training
efforts. 
Port-wide (construction and non-construction) WMBE spend over the five-years was 12.4%
($376M) of the $3B total Port spend with outside vendors, short of the 15% goal. Well above,
however, WMBE utilization before the program began, which in 2016 was 5.3%. 
In construction, WMBE spend over the five-years was 9.5% ($175.9M) of the $1.8B total Port
spend with outside vendors. In non-construction, WMBE spend over the five-years was 16.7%
($200M) of the $1.2B total Port spend with outside vendors. 
On an annual basis, the Port starts from zero in its tracking of firms utilized and percent
achieved. The Port partnered with a total of 392 WMBE businesses over the course of 2023,
exceeding its policy goal of working with 354 firms annually which was triple the 2016 baseline
of 118 firms annually. Over the five-years, the Port partnered with 791 unique WMBE firms. 
BACKGROUND AND GOALS 
On January 9, 2018, the Port Commissioners adopted a new Diversity in Contracting (DC) policy
directive with a supporting Resolution, to advance equity in Port contracting. The policy was
developed over the years of 2016-2017, using 2016 as the baseline for what was eventually
passed. 2019 was the first full year the program and goals came into effect. 
The purpose of this policy directive is to provide the maximum practicable opportunity for
increased participation by minority and women owned and controlled businesses in Port
contracting for public works, consulting services, supplies, materials, equipment, and other
services to create the opportunity to leverage Port spending to increase WMBE utilization. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 3 of 7 
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024 

As part of the Diversity in Contracting policy directive, the Port Commission established
utilization goals for both the amount of contracting dollars paid to WMBE firms as well as the
number of WMBE firms under contract to the Port using 2016 baseline utilization results: 
Five-Year Goals 
(1) Triple the number of WMBE firms that contract with the Port, and 
(2) Increase to 15% the percentage of dollars spent on WMBE contracts 
The policy also directed the establishment of: 
•    Executive level accountability that drives performance across the Port 
•    Port-wide goal setting and reporting processes, requiring Divisions/Departments
to establish Annual WMBE Plans that include aspirational goals and performance
targets 
•    Clear  lines  of  responsibility  and  accountability  for  implementation  with
designated WMBE liaisons for each division 
•    Enhanced  compliance  and  tracking  of  key  performance  objectives  and
incorporation of WMBE goals into the Port’s Long Range Plan 
•    Categories of contracts where inclusion plans and other tools will be used 
•    Implementation  and  monitoring  procedures  to  ensure  prompt  payment  and
change order processes 
•    Expanded  technical  assistance  for  WMBE  firms,  coordination  with  external
partners, and support for internal training to Port staff 
2023 Results 
2023 was the fifth full year of Diversity in Contracting operations. The table below shows the
Port-wide WMBE attainment for 2023, with 12.4% of total (construction and non-construction
combined) spend going to WMBE businesses, short of the Port’s 15% goal. The 392 WMBE firm 
partnerships achieved in 2023 far exceeds the WMBE firm partnership goal of 354 firms. 
2023 Total Utilization (Construction and Non-Construction Combined) 
Total Spend     WMBE Spend                 WMBE Firm
Division                                                        WMBE % 
(dollars)           (dollars)                          Count 
Aviation (AV)                                     454.9 M           46.6 M         10.2%             231 
Corporate                                      81.9 M          18.5 M        22.5%            126 
Economic Development Division (EDD)            5.1 M           1.1 M        21.7%             29 
Maritime Division (MD)                          80.7 M          11.0 M        13.6%             100 
North West Seaport Alliance (NWSA)              4.4 M           0.6 M        13.3%              1 
Total                           627.0 M           77.7 M        12.4%             392 


Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 4 of 7 
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024 

For construction, since the program launch in 2019, DC staff have established WMBE
aspirational goals on a project-by-project basis. In 2022, the Port set an annual Port-wide
construction goal for the first time at 11.5%, and in 2023, a goal of 13%. The Port came closer to
meeting that goal in 2023 by achieving 9.2% WMBE utilization, an increase from the 8.5%
achieved in 2022. 
2023 Construction Utilization* 
Total Spend     WMBE Spend                 WMBE Firm
Division                                                        WMBE % 
(dollars)           (dollars)                          Count 
Aviation (AV)                                     260.6 M           20.7 M          7.9%              70 
Corporate                                      22.5 M           3.4 M        15.2%             15 
Economic Development Division (EDD)            1.4 M           0.0 M         3.4%              5 
Maritime Division (MD)                          38.1 M            5.7 M        15.0%              27 
Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA)               0.9 M             N/A          N/A            N/A 
Total                            323.3 M           29.9 M          9.2%               93 
*WMBE Aspirational Goals for Construction are set project-by-project 
For non-construction, per the DC policy directive, every division and department sets WMBE
aspirational goals prior to the beginning of the year. The table below illustrates, by division, the
2023 WMBE results for non-construction procurements which includes P-Card spend. The Port 
narrowly missed its 2023 non-construction goal of 16% WMBE spend, landing at 15.7%. 
2023 Non-Construction Utilization 
WMBE    2023            WMBE
Total Spend                             2023 
Division                                 Spend      WMBE                   Firm
(dollars)                                  WMBE % 
(dollars)      Goal %                     Count 
Aviation (AV)                                 194.4 M        25.9 M      15% *       21%**          164 
Corporate                                   59.4 M       15.0 M       17%       25.3%          113 
Economic Development Division (EDD)        3.7 M        1.1 M       16%       28.3%          25 
Maritime Division (MD)                      42.6 M         5.3 M     21% *       23%**           73 
Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA)           3.5 M        0.6 M       N/A       16.4%            1 
Total                                            303.7 M        47.8 M        16%        15.7%          307 
*These goals were established on outside service spend budgets 
** These percentages represent WMBE utilization on outside services spent. Overall WMBE utilization in
2023 for aviation was 13.3% and for maritime 12.4% 
2024 Division/Department WMBE Goals 
The table below provides the 2024 WMBE aspirational percent goals per division with a
combined total Port-wide goal of 15% utilization for non-construction procurements. The goals
and figures below are estimates and we expect not all spending may be realized, and actual
results may vary. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 5 of 7 
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024 

2024 Non-Construction WMBE Goals 
2024 WMBE
Projected Total                        2024 WMBE
Division                                     Projected Spend 
Spend (dollars)                             Goal 
(dollars) 
Aviation Division (AV)                                  140 M               19.6 M                  14% 
Corporate                                          49 M               8.3 M                17% 
Economic Development Division (EDD)               5.5 M               0.9 M                16% 
Maritime Division (MD)                             14.7 M               1.9 M                13% 
Total                                208.6 M               31.3 M                 15% 
For 2024, the construction WMBE goal (Portwide) is 13%. Having ended 2023 with 9.2% WMBE
Utilization on construction, we believe 13% WMBE Utilization is a stretch goal for 2024.
Achieving 13% in construction utilization is necessary to advance toward a Port-wide
(construction and non-construction) goal of 15% WMBE utilization. 
Five-Year (2019-2023) Results 
The table below shows the Port-wide WMBE attainment from 2019 to 2023, per division, with
12.4% of total spend (construction and non-construction) going to WMBE businesses. Over the
five years, the Port partnered with 791 unique WMBE firms. 
2019-2023 Total Utilization (Construction and Non-Construction Combined) 
Total Spend     WMBE Spend                WMBE Firm
Division                                                         WMBE % 
(dollars)           (dollars)                         Count 
Aviation                                           2,216.1 M         238.6 M        10.8%          448
Corporate                                       332.8 M         76.1 M       22.9%         303
Economic Development                          20.1 M         4.0 M       20.1%          68
Maritime                                       445.0 M         54.4 M       12.2%         224
NWSA                                   27.1 M        2.8 M      10.4%         3
Total                             3,041.0 M         376.0 M        12.4%          791
For construction, since the program launch in 2019, DC staff have established WMBE
aspirational goals on a project-by-project basis. In 2022, staff set a Port Wide Annual
Construction goal for the first time, at 11.5%. In 2023, the Port-wide Construction goal was
13%. 
Over the five-year period the Port spent 9.5% of its outside construction spend of $1.8 B with
WMBE Firms ($175.9 M), partnering with a total of 222 WMBE firms. The table below reflects,
by division, the construction dollars in 2019-2023 driven to WMBE businesses, WMBE spend
percentage, and number of WMBE firms partnered. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 6 of 7 
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024 
2019-2023 Construction Utilization* 
Total Spend     WMBE Spend               WMBE Firm
Division                                                         WMBE % 
(dollars)           (dollars)                        Count 
Aviation                                           1,463.8 M         133.5 M         9.1%          161
Corporate                                         81.2 M          9.6 M       11.8%           42
Economic Development                           4.5 M         0.2 M        3.7%           9
Maritime                                       289.9 M         32.6 M       11.3%          78
Total                             1,842.9 M         175.9 M         9.5%          222
*WMBE Aspirational Goals for Construction are set project-by-project
For non-construction, the Port met its five-year non-construction goal of 15%. Over the fiveyear
period the Port spent 16.7% of its outside non-construction spend with WMBE Firms
($200.1 M), partnering with a total of 600 WMBE firms. The table below illustrates, by division ,
the 2019-2023 WMBE results for non-construction procurements which includes P-Card spend.
2019-2023 Non-Construction Utilization 
Total Spend     WMBE Spend                WMBE Firm
Division                                                         WMBE % 
(dollars)           (dollars)                         Count 
Aviation                                             752.2 M         105.1 M        14.0%          302
Corporate                                       251.6 M         66.5 M       26.4%         264
Economic Development                          15.6 M         3.9 M       24.8%          60
Maritime                                       155.1 M         21.8 M       14.1%         151
NWSA                                   23.6 M        2.8 M      11.9%         3
Total                             1,198.1 M         200.1 M        16.7%          600

From one year to the next since 2016, the Port has steadily increased WMBE participation in
both the percent spent with WMBE firms and the number of WMBE firms partnered. The table
below illustrates the Port’s WMBE percentages and number of firms utilized from one year to
the next. 
2016-2023 WMBE Utilization Percentage and Firm Count 
Utilization        2016     2017    2018    2019     2020     2021     2022     2023    Policy Goal 
WMBE Percentage    5.3%    8.8%   8.9%    10%  10.9%   12.1%   12.6%   12.4%       15%
WMBE Firm Count     118     200    258     296     325     344      329     394        354
Issues/Challenges 
Under the Diversity in Contracting (DC) Policy Directive, the Port’s efforts in setting and meeting
annual non-construction goals by division have been successful. The percent utilization of
WMBE firms in non-construction has exceeded the 15% goal for the past two years. The
number of total (construction and non-construction) WMBE firms utilized has also largely
trended upward over the past five years, culminating with 392 firms partnered in 2023. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 7 of 7 
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024 

Regarding construction, however, Initiative-200 makes it difficult to hit our goals. Government
entities have far less control over WMBE utilization on low-bid lump sum procurements. As a
result, WMBE participation may be impacted regardless of their overall availability to work on
Port projects. 
The Port currently sets WMBE aspirational goals on construction projects on a project-byproject
basis,  based  upon  project  scope  and  WMBE  availability.  WMBE  attainment  in
construction projects have ranged between 8.6% (2020) and 13.1% (2021), averaging at 9.5% 
over the past five years. WMBE use in construction needs to increase to achieve Port-wide
diversity in contracting goals. 
Although the Port did not achieve the 15% overall WMBE utilization goal, the Port has made
tremendous progress in increasing the utilization of WMBE businesses and will continue
dismantling disparities in contracting. The number of WMBE businesses utilized on an annual
basis has grown steadily year-over-year and this upward trend is expected to continue. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
January 23, 2024 – Commission Order to update the Port’s Diversity in Contracting goals for
2024 
April 12, 2023 – Diversity in Contracting Annual Report 
April 12, 2022 – Diversity in Contracting Annual Report 
April 13, 2021 – Diversity in Contracting Annual Report 
March 26, 2019 – Diversity in Contracting Annual Report 
June 12, 2018 – Commission briefing on Diversity in Contracting program development 
January 8, 2018 – Diversity in Contracting 2nd reading policy & passage of resolution 3737 
December 19, 2017 – Diversity in Contracting Policy Review 
December 12, 2017 - Women and Minority Business Enterprise Policy Review – Resolution 3737
(first reading) 
December 5, 2017 - Women and Minority Business Enterprise Policy Review 
November 28, 2017 –Women and Minority Business Enterprise Policy Review 
October 24, 2017 - Women and Minority Business Enterprise Policy Review 
July 12, 2017 – Commission Budget Priorities, Building Economic Opportunity in 
Underserved Communities 
March 28, 2017 – Small Business Development Update 
March 22, 2016 – Small Business Utilization briefing 
December 14, 2014 – Disparity Study briefing 
August 19, 2014 – Small Business Utilization briefing 
January 26, 2010 – Adoption of Resolution No. 3618 concerning small business utilization 

Template revised September 22, 2016.