Disparity Study

About the study

In 2009, the District engaged the firm of NERA Economic Consulting to perform a Disparity Study to determine whether, and to what extent, race- and gender-based discrimination exists in the District’s contracting marketplace. Such determination was required to establish the legal basis for the development and implementation of a minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MBE/WBE) program.

Conclusions

The study determined that race- and gender-based discrimination is present in the District’s contracting marketplace, and provided information necessary to develop a new MBE/WBE program. The Business Opportunity Program, formerly known as the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program, is the result.