FWC Engages with City of Chicago Chief Procurement Officer on M/W/DBE, Payments & Certification Reform
The Federation of Women Contractors (FWC) Board recently met with the City of Chicago’s Chief Procurement Officer, Sharla Roberts, Sheila Marionneaux (Director of Public Affairs), and Courtney DelGiudice (DPS Counsel) for a critical policy dialogue focused on advancing fair and equitable procurement practices.
Representing FWC were General Counsel Michelle Kantor, Board of Directors Sara Knight, Laura Pager, Cindy Gustafson, Tina Chung, and Executive Director Jaemie Neely. The purpose of the meeting was to engage City leadership on three priority areas impacting our members:
1. M/WDBE Program Integrity and Legal Landscape
FWC reaffirmed its support for the City’s MWDBE program, which CPO Roberts confirmed remains active and enforceable. Discussions included the recent Mid-America Milling and CWIT legal decisions and their implications for diversity in contracting and workforce goals. While federal guidance around affirmative action in workforce hiring evolves, the MWDBE program remains protected at the City level. The FWC is also working with DPS to mitigate compliance for contractors performing on both federal and local contracts.
2. Payments and Financial Barriers
CPO Roberts acknowledged ongoing delays in City payments and shared that the new ERP software system is expected to improve processing and transparency. FWC raised additional issues regarding project-specific requirements, such as the need for clearer guidance when agencies require a bank letter of credit, and proposed standardized language or flexibility to accept surety bonds – industry standard - as an alternative.
3. Certification Processes Certifications remain a cornerstone of the City’s MWDBE program. The City is actively working to streamline and modernize certification processes to reduce redundancy and improve turnaround times. FWC will continue to advocate for greater efficiency and communication between City departments and certified firms.
Next Steps and Continued Collaboration
CPO Roberts expressed a strong interest in data-driven solutions and requested support in gathering data from contractors, unions, and partner agencies. FWC will collaborate with legal and industry stakeholders to provide recommendations and examples.
We also look forward to establishing a monthly standing meeting with DPS leadership to maintain momentum and ensure continuous dialogue on the issues that matter most to our members.
FWC remains a proactive voice for women contractors, committed to protecting MWDBE programs, improving access to opportunities, and addressing the systemic barriers that limit business growth.
For questions or to share input on these advocacy efforts, please contact us at info@fwcchicago.com.
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