DCAMM Conducting Disparity Study

DCAMM has reached out to AGC MA to help publicize its call for firms to participate in a new Disparity Study to evaluate the participation of MBE/WBE firms in Commonwealth construction and design services contracting and procurement activities. The Study is being undertaken to determine whether the current program remains legally defensible and administratively successful. The Study is being conducted by NERA Economic Consulting Group.
 
DCAMM and NERA have asked AGC to publicize the Study to our members and encourage participation, insight and feedback as to the challenges and opportunities involved in meeting the goals. AGC, and many members we have talked with are mindful of the difficulties in easily meeting the 10.4% goals due to the restrictions against filed sub bidders and trade contractors from being able to sub-sub out a portion of their work to help CM/GC’s meet the overall project goals. Here are questions that have been submitted to NERA:
 
Majority –Owned Firms:
1.) How would you rate your success in meeting the 10.4% MBE/WBE goals on Chapter 149 and 149A public projects?
 
2.) To what degree is your firm’s ability to comply with the 10.4% MBE/WBE goals hindered by legal requirements prohibiting filed sub-bidders/trade contractors from being allowed to sub out a portion of their trade work to assist the GC/CM with meeting project goals?  
 
3.) (A) How useful is the list of certified MBE/WBE firms supplied by SDO as a tool for you to identify and secure qualified MBE/WBE firms?

(B) What are the major shortcomings of this list:

• Size of the list
• Range of trade
• Capacity/Qualifications of contractors on the list
• Other

  
4.) As a majority –owned firm, what is the % of direct minority and/or women employees on your firm’s payroll?
 
Minority –Owned Firms:
 
5.) Please list or rank the biggest barriers to entry for performing public work?

• Access to capital
• Access to bonding
• Lack of relevant experience
• Tight public prequalification process
• Access to mentoring/network with majority-owned firms
• Access to jobsites/geographical challenges
• Project scope/Bid packages are too large
• Bidding regulations prevent prime subs from being able to break a project into smaller packages