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2023 State of Oregon Disparity Study

Overview

The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) commissioned BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) to conduct a disparity study to assess whether businesses owned by persons of color (POCs), women, and service-disabled veterans (SDVs) face any barriers as part of the state's contract and procurement processes. Information from the study will help inform the state's efforts to encourage the participation of POC, woman, and SDV-owned businesses in its work.

Study Analyses

The crux of the disparity study was to examine whether there are any disparities between: 
  • The percentage of contract and procurement dollars the state spent with POC-, woman-, and SDV-owned businesses between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2022; and
  • The percentage of dollars POC-, woman-, and SDV-owned businesses might be expected to receive based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of state contracts and procurements.
The study also provided information related to:
  • Legal considerations surrounding POC-, woman-, and SDV-owned business programs and disparity study methodology; 
  • Marketplace conditions for POC-, woman-, and SDV-owned businesses;
  • Contracting practices and business assistance programs the state currently has in place; and
  • Recommendations related to policies and programs the state could consider implementing to encourage the participation of POC-, woman-, and SDV-owned businesses in its work.

Study Schedule

BBC initiated the disparity study in October 2022 and completed the study November 2023.

Project Initiation

The state and BBC initiated the 2023 State of Oregon Disparity Study in October 2022 with a series of meetings with various state agencies. BBC met with the state to introduce the study, answer questions, and begin the process of understanding contracting and vendor data the state maintains. 

Data Collection

BBC began collecting data on contracts and procurements the state awarded during the study period as well as information about the vendors that participated in that work. The analysis of the data was completed in August 2023.

Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

Between December 2022 and August 2023, DAS and BBC conducted eight stakeholder engagement sessions, inviting interested stakeholders to participate in virtual sessions to learn about the study and share verbal or written insights about their experiences working in the Oregon marketplace.

Final Report

In November 2023, BBC submitted a final report to the state. The report presents results from the utilization, availability, and disparity analyses separately for relevant business groups. The report also provides recommendations related to policies and programs the state could consider implementing to encourage the participation of POC-, woman-, and SDV-owned businesses in its work. The full report can be found here.