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Disparity Study Frequently Asked Questions


​​A disparity study ex​amines whether there are differences between:

  • The percentage of dollars that person of color- (POC-), woman-, and service-disabled veteran- (SDV-) owned businesses received on an agency's prime contracts and subcontracts during a particular time period (utilization).
  • The percentage of dollars those businesses would be expected to receive based on their availability to perform on the agency's prime contracts and subcontracts (availability).
The comparison between the participation of POC​-, woman-, and SDV-owned businesses in an agency's contracting and the availability of those businesses to perform that work is referred to as a disparity analysis. In addition to utilization, availability, and disparity analyses, disparity studies typically examine other quantitative and qualitative information about:
  • ​Legal considerations surrounding the implementation of POC, woman, and SDV-owned business programs.
  • Conditions in the marketplace for persons of color, women, veterans, and POC, woman, and veteran-owned businesses.
  • Contracting practices and business assistance programs the agency currently has in place.
  • Potential program measures the agency could consider using to better encourage the participation of POC, woman, and SDV-owned businesses in its work. 

​The state would like to assess whether POC, woman and SDV-owned businesses face any barriers as part of its contracting and procurement processes and what policies or programs it could use to better encourage those businesses in its work. In addition, the state would like to establish a benchmark for the participation of POC, woman, and SDV-owned businesses based on the availability of those businesses for the specific types of contracts and procurements it awards.​

The study is expected to be completed in October 2023.
Disparity Study Project Initiation Presentation.​ ​

​The disparity study will examine construction, professional services, and non-professional services and goods contracts and procurements that state executive branch agencies awarded between July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022.​​

​Yes, the results of the disparity study will be made public at the end of the process.​​

There are several ways you can participate directly in the 2023 State of Oregon Disparity Study:

  • ​Share your experiences working in the local marketplace by emailing the project team directly at oregondisparity@bbcresearch.com​.
  • Join us for a stakeholder engagement session in April 2023 during which you can learn about the disparity study, submit verbal or written comments, and ask questions. .
  • If you represent a business working in the local marketplace, you may be contacted to participate in an availability survey. If you are contacted, please help the project team by participating.
  • If you represent a business that has performed work for the state during the study period, you may be contacted to participate in a utilization survey. If you are contacted, please help the project team by participating.
  • Contact BBC research and consulting​ if you have any questions about the study.