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.
Study Analysis. 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 Spring 2024. For the study schedule, click here.
Key contacts. If you have any questions or comments regarding the disparity study, please see below for contact information.
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 worked 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 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
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.
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 (t) 303-321-2547, ext. 245 (e) imcclish@bbcresearch.com
Stephanie Ayers Associate BBC Research & Consulting (t) 303-321-2547, ext. 249 (e) sayers@bbcresearch.com
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.
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.
FAQs
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. For the presentation that the project team used for those meetings, click here.
Community meeting presentation. LAS, RTC, and BBC held a series of community meetings in January 2023, during which the project team presented information about the disparity study, answered questions, and solicited participants for verbal or written testimony regarding their experiences working in the local marketplace. For the community meeting presentation, click here.
Comments
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 LASRTCdisparitystudy@bbcresearch.com or use the comments box below.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding the disparity study, please contact one of the following individuals:
Joe Coe Airport Manager - Chief Diversity Officer Harry Reid International Airport (t) 702-261-5982 (e) joec@lasairport.com
Tonita Brown Senior Purchasing & Contracts Analyst / DBE Liaison Officer Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (t) 702-676-1507 (e) brownt@rtcsnv.com
Alternatively, you can contact a member of the project team directly:
Iris McClish Managing Director BBC Research & Consulting (t) 303-321-2547, ext. 245 (e) imcclish@bbcresearch.com
Stephanie Ayers Associate BBC Research & Consulting (t) 303-321-2547, ext. 249 (e) sayers@bbcresearch.com or at: LASRTCdisparitystudy@bbcresearch.com