Public Policies for Construction and Professional Services Contracting to Advance Social Justice

The Port of San Francisco is an enterprise agency within the city and county of San Francisco with an annual budget of approximately $110M. The Port of San Francisco manages 7.5 mi of waterfront and is home to approximately 35 over-water facilities, including popular destinations and attractions, historic districts, small businesses, and maritime opportunities. Recent changes in how the Port contracts for construction and professional services have had positive impacts on social justice issues such as diversity, equity, and inclusion. The changes in contracting practice are in conformance with city, state, and federal regulations and provide opportunities for smaller, local business entities (LBEs) to participate in Port projects. This paper provides some examples of how changes to the Port’s contracting practices can provide additional benefits to its stakeholder communities (i.e., tenants, contractors, professional service providers, and neighboring communities).