Other Publications

Published by Griffin & Strong, P.C. for the State of Georgia

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) study demonstrated the ongoing need for analysis and evaluation of a state’s DOT efforts to ensure equitable availability and access to public contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. The study analyzed the contracting and subcontracting activities of GDOT, its prime contractors, and grantees during the three (3) year period from FY2012 to FY2015 in order to determine whether, due to race, ethnicity, or gender status there exists a statistically significant disparity between the percentage of available DBEs in GDOT’s marketplace and the percentage of these firms that have been awarded contracts from GDOT or its prime contractors.The 2016 GDOT Disparity Study identified three key conclusions on the participation and utilization of minority and women-owned businesses to contract with GDOT: the certification process was considered daunting and long for many contractors; there might not be “buy-in” to the program amongst all of GDOT’s staff, and some believe that good faith efforts are not proving to be effective.

Published by Keen Independent Research

Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) study demonstrated the ongoing need for analysis and evaluation of a state’s DOT’s efforts to ensure equitable availability and access to public contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. The disparity study was launched in March 2018. Keen Independent completed an Availability Study report in July 2019 before publishing the full Availability and Disparity Study report in March 2020. The 2019 HDOT Availability and Disparity Study analyzed whether there is a level playing field for minority and women-owned firms in Hawaii to contract with HDOT for construction, professional services, goods, other general services, and airport concessions; and overall goals for disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE) participation in its federally funded contracts.

Published by BBC Research & Consulting

The study evaluated the State of Indiana’s Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (M/WBE) Program. The Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA) operates the State of Indiana’s M/WBE Program, which is designed to encourage the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in state contracting and create a fair, competitive, and equitable environment for those businesses. The program comprises various measures to encourage the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in state contracting. Some of those measures are race and gender-neutral, which are designed to encourage the participation of all businesses in state contracting, and other measures are race and gender-conscious, which are designed to specifically encourage the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in state contracting (e.g., using MBE/WBE participation goals to award individual contracts). IDOA also operates the Indiana Veteran-owned Small Business (IVOSB) Program, which is designed to encourage the participation of veteran-owned businesses in state contracting and help ensure that those businesses can build productive relationships throughout relevant contracting industries.

Published by Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) programs are designed to ensure that minority-owned businesses are afforded equal access to public contracting opportunities. MBE programs can contain both race-conscious and race neutral policies and procedures to achieve the objectives of the program. Prime contractor utilization between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2015 in four industry sectors (construction, construction-related services, engineering and professional services, and materials/commodities and services) were studied. The distribution of total prime purchase orders by dollar amount for all industries indicated minority-owned businesses. Minority females and minority males received 1.15% and 8.92% respectively. The disparity analysis summary found disparities for African Americans and Hispanic Americans related to construction prime purchase orders valued at $10,001 to $20,000. It also found disparity related to construction prime purchase orders among African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian-Indian Americans, Asian Pacific Americans for purchase orders valued at $20,001 to $1,710,000. Anecdotal findings included: barriers created by MSD managers and inspectors, bid shopping, good old boy network, difficulty meeting bonding and insurance requirements, difficulty obtaining financing, late payments. The study concluded that minority business disparity exists by industry sector but it is not all inclusive of all minority sub-groups.