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.