Equity & Social Justice (ESJ) Innovation Plan
The King County Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan is a tool to build equity in design and technical consulting contracts. King County seeks consultants who understand and share a commitment to Equity and Social Justice. The ESJ Innovation plan establishes ESJ evaluation criteria for procurements that focus on county capital improvement design projects and technical consulting contracts.
The ESJ Strategic Plan commits King County to being pro-equity, which means being racially just and inclusive, and consistently taking actions to eliminate the root causes of inequities. The ESJ Innovation Plan supports the county's pro-equity efforts.
Key elements
M/WBE Outreach Plan with Aspirational Goals
Proposers are required to provide an approach to maximize Minority and Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) participation. M/WBE firms must be certified by the State of Washington, Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE).
Mentor - Protégé Opportunities
Proposer's plan, approach, and specific actions to implement a mentor-protégé program for M/WBE firms to increase the participation, capacity, and or business acumen of these firms during implementation of the Scope of Work.
Advancing Equity and Social Justice
Proposer's approach to advancing Equity and Social Justice within King County and beyond. Example approaches include:
- Cultural competency training
- Obtaining input from culturally diverse populations
- Integrating the needs of historically disadvantaged and low-income populations into tasks and deliverables
- Other initiatives that will achieve outcomes applicable to the county's ESJ Plan goals
ESJ Innovations (Community Partnerships)
Proposer's narrative describing their integrated approach to incorporating ESJ Innovations into this project beyond industry best practices, to promote racial equity during implementation of the Scope of Work. Example approaches may include:
- Identification of community partnerships to provide, distribute or communicate information in multiple languages
- Delivery of cultural competency training to staff using community partnerships to develop, deliver and facilitate the curriculum
- Notification of work opportunities to subconsultants and employees using community partnerships