Minority contracts lagging at WSSC, study says

Businesses owned by women and minorities are not getting a proportionate share of major contracts awarded by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, according to a new study released Thursday.

The study, which was ordered by the utility and looked at contracts and subcontracts awarded by the water and sewer utility between July 2003 and June 2009, found "statistically significant underutilization" of those businesses for prime contracts in construction, architecture and engineering, goods and services and professional services, according to WSSC officials.

For subcontracts in those areas, some racial and ethnic groups also got significantly less than a proportionate share in all but the professional services category.

WSSC staff will draft a new minority contracting program for commissioners to consider. The current program expires April 30.