Nevada Transportation Disparity Study
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) commissioned BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) to conduct a disparity study to assess whether small businesses, people of color (POC)-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, LGBTQ-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses face any barriers as part of LAS or RTC’s contracting processes. Information from the study will help LAS and RTC evaluate and refine their efforts to encourage the participation of small businesses, as well as POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses in their contracts and help inform any refinements LAS and RTC might make to their implementation of their supplier diversity programs, including the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
About the Study
The disparity study will focus on construction, professional services, non-professional services, and supplies contracts and procurements LAS and RTC awarded between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2022. The core purpose of the disparity study will be to examine whether there are any disparities between:
- The percentage of contract dollars LAS and RTC spent with small businesses, as well as with POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses during the study period (utilization); and
- The percentage of contract dollars small businesses, as well as POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses might be expected to receive based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of LAS and RTC contracts (availability).
The study will also examine other information related to:
- Legal considerations surrounding the implementation of small business programs, as well as POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned business programs;
- Marketplace conditions throughout Southern Nevada for POCs, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses;
- Contracting policies and business assistance programs LAS and RTC currently have in place; and
- Program measures for the agencies to consider implementing to further encourage the participation of small businesses, as well as POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned business participation in its work.
Study Schedule
BBC initiated the disparity study in December 2022 and will complete the study at the end of March 2024.
Study Progress
LAS and RTC will provide regular updates about BBC’s progress on the disparity study throughout its course. Please check back periodically for those updates.
Project initiation
LAS, RTC, and BBC kicked off the disparity study in December 2022 with a series of meetings with various representatives from LAS, RTC, and local business organizations. BBC introduced the study, answered questions, and began the process of understanding contracting and vendor data LAS and RTC maintain. For the initiation presentation, click here.
Data collection
BBC has begun working with LAS and RTC to collect data on contracts and procurements LAS and RTC awarded during the study period as well as information about the vendors that participated in that work.
Community meetings
The project team conducted two community meetings with relevant stakeholders on January 17, 2023. During the community meetings, BBC presented information about the disparity study, answered questions, and solicited participants for any verbal or written testimony regarding their experiences working in the local marketplace. For the community meeting presentation, click here.
Next steps
BBC will engage in the following disparity study tasks in the coming months:
- Data collection. The project team will continue to work with LAS and RTC to collect data on contracts and procurements the agencies awarded during the study period and the vendors that participated in that work.
- Data analysis. BBC will begin the data analysis process by compiling data it receives from LAS and RTC and assessing the subindustries that account for the majority of LAS and RTC contracting and procurement as well as the geographical area that accounts for the vast majority of vendors that compete for that work (i.e., relevant geographic market area, or RGMA).
- Availability surveys. The project team will begin conducting availability surveys with businesses in RGMA that perform work relevant to LAS and RTC contracting and procurement. If we contact your business, please participate in the survey process to help ensure an accurate and comprehensive study!
In-depth interviews. The study team will begin conducting in-depth interviews with business owners throughout the local marketplace. The interviews will provide the study team with detailed information about marketplace conditions related to starting a business, trying to grow a business, working with local public agencies, and a variety of other topics. If we contact your business, please participate in the interview process to help ensure an accurate and comprehensive study!
Project Team and Contact Information
The project team for the 2023 Nevada Transportation Disparity Study includes five firms that possess expertise directly relevant to conducting the study in a manner that meets the highest industry and legal standards.
Local Agency Contacts
Amy Shaw
Commercial Business Development Manager
Harry Reid International Airport
702-261-5123
[email protected]
Tonita Brown
Senior Purchasing & Contracts Analyst / DBE Liaison Officer
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
702-676-1507
[email protected]
You can also e-mail your questions directly to the project team at [email protected].
Disparity Study Consultant Team
BBC Research & Consulting (BBC)
BBC, which will serve as the prime consultant for the study, is a 52-year-old economic and diversity research firm based in Denver, Colorado. The firm has completed more than 135 disparity studies for states, cities, transportation agencies, and other government organizations across the country. BBC is also considered a national expert in helping organizations develop and refine their implementations of small and diverse business programs. The firm has provided expert testimony related to disparity studies and diverse business programs on several different occasions, most recently as part of the successful defense of the California Department of Transportation’s implementation of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. For more information about BBC, please visit bbcresearch.com.
Primary Contacts
Iris McClish
Managing Director
BBC Research & Consulting
303-321-2547, ext. 245
[email protected]
Stephanie Ayers
Associate
BBC Research & Consulting
303-321-2547, ext. 249
[email protected]
MYS Firm (MYS)
MYS is a Black American woman-owned project management and community programming consulting firm based in Henderson, Nevada. The firm’s core areas of focus include community engagement, supplier diversity programming, small business advocacy, and strategic partnership consultation. For the 2023 Nevada Transportation Disparity Study, MYS will conduct in‐depth interviews with business owners and other key stakeholders as part of the project team’s analyses of qualitative information. MYS will also review LAS and RTC’s programs and policies and provide guidance and recommendations related to program development and implementation.
Exstare Federal Services (Exstare)
Exstare is a Black American woman-owned management consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. The firm’s initial focus was providing high-level support services to assist airports in their implementation of the Federal Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) Program and the Federal DBE Program. Today, Exstare’s core services have grown to include disparity studies, program implementation, strategic planning, public relations, business diversity program assessments, and government relations. Exstare routinely develops people of color (POC)- and woman-owned business programs and contracting policies; conducts certification reviews; reports on annual POC- and woman-owned business achievement; provides outreach program assistance; and conducts compliance audits. For the 2023 Nevada Transportation Disparity Study, Exstare will provide guidance and recommendations related to program development and implementation.
Davis Research
Since its inception in 1970, Davis Research has grown to be one of the leading survey data collection firms in the nation. The firm consistently delivers sophisticated telephone and web-based surveys with seamless programming, supremely qualified surveyors, and a customized look and feel. In addition, it offers professional computer-aided telephone interviewing services from its industry-best call centers. Davis Research’s success has come from partnering with its clients to deliver custom survey solutions that best answer research questions. For the 2023 Nevada Transportation Disparity Study, Davis Research will be responsible for programming and fielding surveys with businesses in the local marketplace in connection with the availability and utilization analyses.
Holland & Knight
Holland & Knight is a multi‐national law firm and has participated in more than 70 disparity studies with BBC. BBC employs Holland & Knight to develop the legal analysis and framework on disparity studies and to consult on legal issues. Holland & Knight also has extensive experience conducting in‐depth interviews, collecting and analyzing anecdotal evidence, and assessing potential DBE program measures. Holland & Knight will develop the legal framework for the 2023 Nevada Transportation Disparity Study.
Upcoming Events
The project team is committed to engaging the public meaningfully throughout the course of the 2023 Nevada Transportation Disparity Study. BBC will host various events to help the public understand the purpose of the study and offer opportunities for the public to submit testimony and comments about their experiences working in the local marketplace and with LAS and RTC and other local agencies. The events schedule will be updated regularly. Please check back periodically for those updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several ways in which you can participate in the 2023 Nevada Transportation Disparity Study:
- Share your experiences working in the local marketplace or with LAS and RTC by emailing the project team directly at [email protected]. You can also submit written comments at tinyurl.com/NevadaDisparity.
- Join us for a community meeting where you can learn more about the disparity study process, ask questions, and submit testimony about your experiences working in the marketplace. For details about community meetings, click here.
- Respond to our requests to complete a business survey. If you represent a business working in the local marketplace, you may be contacted as a part of the survey process. If you are contacted, please help the project team by participating!
- Respond to our requests to complete an in-depth interview. If you represent a business working in the local marketplace, you may be contacted as a part of the interview process. If you are contacted, please help the project team by participating!
Call us if you have any unanswered questions about the study. View our contact information.
Yes, the results of the disparity study will be made public at the end of the process.
Information the project team collects as a part of the disparity study will help inform LAS and RTC’s implementations of their supplier diversity programs, including the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. Among other information, the disparity study will provide:
- An independent, objective review of small, POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned business participation in LAS and RTC prime contracts and subcontracts;
- Information that is useful for setting overall annual aspirational goals for the participation of POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses in LAS and RTC contracting and procurement; and
- Insights about how LAS and RTC might improve contracting for local businesses and how it could better encourage the participation of small businesses, as well as POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses in the future.
The disparity study will examine prime contracts and subcontracts LAS and RTC awarded between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2022. The study will examine construction, professional services, non-professional services, and supplies contracts and procurements.
The study will be completed in March 2024. View the complete study schedule.
A disparity study examines whether there are differences between:
- The percentage of dollars small businesses, as well as POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses received on an organization’s prime contracts and subcontracts during a particular time period (utilization); and
- The percentage of dollars those businesses would be expected to receive based on their availability to perform on the organization’s prime contracts and subcontracts (availability).
The comparison between the participation and availability of small businesses as well as POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses in an organization’s contracting is referred to as a disparity analysis. In addition to utilization, availability, and disparity analyses, disparity studies typically examine other information about:
- Legal considerations surrounding the implementation of POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned business programs;
- Conditions in the local marketplace for POCs, women, veterans, and POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses;
- Contracting practices and business assistance programs the organizations currently have in place; and
- Potential program measures for consideration as part of the organizations’ implementations of POC-, woman-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned business programs.
Study Materials
LAS and RTC will provide access to relevant disparity study notes, presentations, and reports below. Please check back periodically for updated documents throughout the course of the study.
Project initiation presentation. LAS, RTC, and BBC initiated the disparity study in December 2022 with a series of meetings with representatives from LAS, RTC, and local business organizations. BBC introduced the study, answered questions, and began the process of understanding contracting and vendor data LAS and RTC maintain.
Presentation Video
Provide Feedback
Please submit any comments you may have about your experiences working in the local marketplace, working with LAS and RTC, or about the disparity study. Topic areas could include:
- Conditions in the local marketplace, including any potential barriers businesses face in being successful or growing;
- Contracting opportunities with LAS, RTC, or other government organizations;
- Business assistance programs LAS, RTC, or other government organizations currently use;
- Any recommendations for additional business assistance programs LAS and RTC could consider implementing; or
- The 2023 Nevada Transportation Disparity Study itself.
Your comments will be treated confidentially. They will be integrated as part of the project team’s analyses of local marketplace conditions without identifying you as the source.
E-mail your confidential comments directly to the project team at [email protected].