“Getting the Stuff:” Applying Equity to Procuring Goods and Services during the Covid-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Federalism, National Security, and Disasters

Abstract

Purpose/Research Question: This study addresses the research problem statement that there is concern for a lack of equity in the ability to obtain critical products and services during emergencies such as the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The main purpose of the paper is to test for dimensions of equity in the success of state and local governments obtaining desired goods and services during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The research question to be addressed is: What is the relationship of equity factors in the acquisition of critical medical supplies? The research question will be addressed by conducting factor analyses with the list of critical products and services desired and various equity variables to determine how equity variables may be related to the successful procurement of various products and services during the Covid-19 pandemic.Data: The quantitative data to be used is secondary data from a National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Survey administered to over 175 state and local government procurement officials across the U.S. in spring 2020. The data consists of the goods and services desired and procured by state and local government officials during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as variables that capture dimensions of equity. The factor analysis allows for statistically significant relationships to be drawn from the sample population.Research Design and Methods: A factor analysis is run on critical products and services desired by state and local governments during the peak of Covid-19 in spring 2020 to determine if there was equity in the successful ability to procure critical products and services. First, the combinations of products and services that were procured by governments is determined and then dimensions of equity are captured by control variables to demonstrate how the baskets of products and services procured changed based on controlling for various equity selection variables. Results/Findings: The findings show that dimensions of equity such as knowledge, preparation, effort, and pursuing social equity contracting programs have a positive relationship with achieving government’s achieving greater success in procuring the most desired products and services such as personal paper products, Covid-19 test kits, diagnostic testing, and medical supplies including Covid drugs. Thus, the results show that at the state and local level, the procurement of critical products and services has a positive relationship with equitability in terms of success in obtaining the critical products and services.Conclusion/Implications: Equity mattered in the procurement of critical products and services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, the knowledge and skill, the emergency management preparation, effort, and pursuit of social equity contracting programs from government officials have a positive correlation with the successful ability to procure the most desired critical products and services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Author

• Joshua Steinfeld, Bowie State University
  Presenting Author