Case Study: City of San Diego

Client Overview

The City of San Diego operates one of the most robust and transparent municipal procurement programs in California, managing hundreds of millions of dollars annually across construction, professional services, and goods and services contracts. Through its Equal Opportunity Contracting Program (EOCP) and Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) Program, the City ensures equitable access to contracting opportunities for small, local, and diverse businesses.

Challenge

Prior to implementing PRISM Compliance Management, the City faced several challenges in managing and reporting on business diversity and compliance outcomes:

  • Manual, fragmented processes limited visibility and slowed reporting.

  • Tracking subcontractor participation across multiple funding sources (City, State, Federal) was time-intensive and error-prone.

  • Meeting aspirational participation goals for small, minority-, and woman-owned firms required more consistent and reliable data.

The City recognized the need for a centralized, automated compliance management solution that could track participation goals, generate accurate diversity reports, and strengthen accountability across all departments.

Solution: PRISM Compliance Management

To modernize its compliance operations, the City of San Diego selected PRISM Compliance Management, the industry’s leading supplier diversity and compliance tracking platform. PRISM equipped the City with:

  • Automated, real-time tracking of contract awards and subcontractor participation by certification type and demographic category.

  • Centralized dashboards and analytics that deliver actionable insights across all contracts and funding sources.

  • Streamlined compliance workflows to manage certifications including SLBE, ELBE, DBE, MBE, WBE, and DVBE.

  • Integrated reporting tools for transparent communication with City Council, community partners, and the public.

As one of PRISM Compliance Management’s longest-standing clients, the City of San Diego continues to set the standard for transparency, accountability, and equity in public procurement.

Results and Impact (FY 2024 Highlights)

With the support of PRISM’s powerful compliance and reporting capabilities, the City achieved significant progress toward its inclusion goals in FY 2024:

  • $116.9 million awarded to certified Small Local and Emerging Local Business Enterprises (SLBE/ELBE) — representing 17% of all City contracts totaling $704.1 million.

  • 21% participation rate by SLBE/ELBE firms on Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects — exceeding the City’s 20% goal.

  • $17.7 million awarded in Architectural & Engineering contracts to SLBE/ELBE firms — a $1.7 million increase from the previous year.

  • $16.4 million awarded to certified woman-owned SLBE/ELBE firms, driving gender equity in City contracting.

  • 11% participation by minority- and woman-owned businesses citywide, reflecting progress toward the City’s 31% aspirational goal.

  • A 64% increase in compliance oversight activity, made possible through PRISM’s automation and reporting efficiencies.

Key Outcomes

  • Transparency: Automated dashboards provide clear, real-time visibility into the City’s diversity performance.

  • Efficiency: Staff hours dedicated to manual compliance reviews have decreased, allowing for deeper program engagement.

  • Data-Driven Insights: Leadership now uses PRISM analytics to identify opportunities for outreach and capacity building among small and diverse businesses.

  • Sustained Growth: Consistent use of PRISM has contributed to measurable year-over-year improvements in business participation and program accountability.

Conclusion

As one of PRISM Compliance Management’s longest-standing clients, the City of San Diego exemplifies what’s possible when technology and equity align. By leveraging PRISM’s leading-edge compliance platform, the City has transformed its supplier diversity efforts into a model of measurable success and community impact.

We are proud to highlight the City of San Diego’s achievements and look forward to their continued success and partnership as we work together to expand equitable opportunities and strengthen supplier diversity across the region.