State and local governments are responsible for contracting out many consequential products and services for residents – but historically, some communities have received disparate access to services and experienced disparities in outcomes which still persist today. To correct these disparities, it is essential that governments carefully consider how residents receive and access services during every step of the contracting process. This three-part series explores equity opportunities at each stage of the contracting process in detail.
Part 1 focuses on planning equitably for services by reviewing past performance data and engaging stakeholders and clients to determine what services are needed.