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    Bureau of Equal Opportunity

    Disparity Study

    2024 PennDOT Disparity Study

    The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) commissioned BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) to conduct a disparity study to assess whether small businesses as well as person of color (POC)-owned businesses; woman-owned businesses; veteran-owned businesses; and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (referred to collectively as disadvantaged businesses) face any barriers as part of PennDOT’s contracting processes. 

    Information from the study will help the agency evaluate and refine its efforts to encourage the participation of disadvantaged businesses in contracts and procurements and help inform any refinements PennDOT might make to the implementation of its supplier diversity programs, including the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and PennDOT’s Diverse Business (DB) Program.

    The disparity study focused on construction, professional services, and non-professional services and supplies contracts and procurements PennDOT awarded between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2022. The core purpose of the disparity study is to examine whether any disparities existed between:

    • The percentage of contract and procurement dollars PennDOT awarded to small and disadvantaged businesses during the study period (utilization); and
    • The percentage of contract dollars one might expect PennDOT to award to small businesses and disadvantaged businesses based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of contracts and procurements (availability).

    The study also examines other information related to:

    • Legal considerations surrounding the implementation of small business and disadvantaged business programs;
    • Marketplace conditions throughout Pennsylvania for POCs, women, veterans, service-disabled veterans and POC-, woman-, veteran-, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses;
    • Contracting policies and business assistance programs PennDOT currently has in place; and
    • Program measures for PennDOT to consider implementing to further encourage the participation of small and disadvantaged businesses in its work.  

    Questions regarding the 2023 PennDOT Disparity Study can be directed to the Bureau of Equal Opportunity at RA-PDBEO@pa.gov.​

    Contact

    Questions regarding the 2023 PennDOT Disparity Study can be directed to the Bureau of Equal Opportunity at RA-PDBEO@pa.gov.

    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Disparity Study

    ​In addition to the PennDOT Disparity Study, the Department of General Servces (DGS) has completed a disparity study to assess disparities across state contracting opportunities.

    DGS Disparity Study

    Past Studies