Other Publications

Published by Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering for the Connecticut General Assembly and the Government Administration and Elections Commission

A disparity study of Connecticut's Small and Minority Business Enterprise Set-Aside Program was conducted. In Phase 2 the study reviewed Diversity Data Management System Specification and Review Agency Procedures; Practices Related to System Implementation; Best Practices Review and Analysis; and Establishing MBE/WBE Program Requirements. The study concluded that Connecticut can be a national leader as an advocate for MBE and WBE business opportunities by considering the implementation of a series of actions: Adopt an organizational structure with a focal point for the MBE and WBE Program; Enact legislative initiatives for the near term that separate the MBE and WBE Program from the state’s SBE Set-Aside Program; Implement administrative changes to provide greater transparency and consistency within goal-setting and monitoring processes; Collect comprehensive data about contracts and all payments made to contractors, whether prime or subcontractors, across agencies and branches of government; Increase the use of race-neutral measures to expand the number of businesses that participate in government contracting; and Consider the federal DBE regulations as guidance for implementation and administration of the MBE and WBE Program. Based on the results of periodic statistical analyses, if a statistically significant disparity resulting from discrimination exists, then a legislatively mandated MBE and WBE Program should be continued.

Published by CRP, Inc.

In fulfillment of a legislative mandate pursuant to the authority set forth in the Establishment of the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Assessment Program, the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) commissioned CRP to evaluate if there is a specific evidentiary foundation against minority- and women-owned businesses; assess if there are disparities between the availability and utilization of minority and women-owned prime contractors and subcontractors and, if there are, describe and analyze the most relevant causal factors; and determine if there are statistically significant disparities in the utilization of minority- and women-owned businesses by prime contractors on government-assisted projects awarded. Since the lack of available data made it impossible for the authors to appropriately complete a disparity study meeting industry standards, the authors’ work outlined the steps that the District of Columbia would need to engage in to conduct a disparity study by industry standards. Implementation of these recommendations, coupled with administrative support, will provide the District with an actual gauge of the state of procurement in the city, particularly related to the equitable participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in procurement and contracting transactions.

Published by MGT Consulting Group

A study commissioned by the City of Tallahassee produced factual evidence to support the continuation of a race and gender-conscious local MWBE procurement program based on findings of MWBE utilization as prime contractors or subcontractors and using statistical data for five business categories. The Study analyzed procurement trends and practices for the study period of October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2017. The expenditure utilization analysis showed that non-MWBE prime firms are utilized at substantially higher rates than their MWBE counterparts. Spending by the MWBE classifications was 1.88 percent for Non-minority Women firms, 1.05 percent for African American firms, 1.81 percent for Hispanic American firms, and 0.02 percent for Asian American firms. For the City’s construction subcontractors, MGT estimated that 79.14 percent or $54.3 million of spending went to non-MWBE firms, while only 20.86 percent or $14.3 million when to MWBE firms.

Published by Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd.

The authors performed a disparity analysis on all prime contracts and subcontracts awarded by Miami-Dade County (Florida) from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011. The analysis found statistically significant underutilization (“disparity”) at both the prime contract and subcontract levels for several minority groups. Disparity was found for African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Women Business Enterprise construction prime contractors on contracts valued under $250,000. Race and gender-neutral recommendations are offered to increase M/WBE access to the County’s prime and subcontracts and to track, monitor, report, and verify M/WBE prime contractor and subcontractor utilization. These recommendations are address administrative strategies, pre-award, post-award, website, and data management recommendations.