Overview
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) commissioned BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) to conduct an availability study to assess whether barriers exist for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses that make it more difficult for them to compete for ITD contracts.
Information from the study will help the organization evaluate and refine its efforts to encourage the participation of those businesses in its contracts and procurements and help inform any refinements the agency might make to its implementation of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Programs.
First Steps
Data Collection
BBC has begun working with ITD to collect data on contracts and procurements the organization awarded during the study period, as well as information about the vendors that participated in that work.
- The project team will conduct three public meetings—one virtual and two in-person—in August 2026.
- During the public meetings, BBC will present information about the availability study, answer any questions, and solicit any verbal or written insights from participants regarding their experiences working in the local marketplace.
- Please participate and make sure your insights are heard!
Public Meetings Schedule
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In-person meeting to learn about the 2026 ITD Availability Study
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In-person meeting to learn about the 2026 ITD Availability Study
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Virtual online meeting to learn about the 2026 ITD Availability Study
Participation in the Availability Study
- BBC and Davis Research will conduct availability surveys with businesses in ITD’s relevant geographic market area (RGMA) that perform work relevant to ITD contracts and procurements.
- If we contact your business, please participate in the survey process to help ensure an accurate and comprehensive study!
Availability Study FAQs
An availability study estimates the percentage of dollars one would expect ITD to award diverse businesses based on their availability to perform work on the organization’s contracts and procurements.
The availability study will examine prime contracts and subcontracts ITD awarded between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2026. The study will examine construction, professional services, and non-professional services and other goods contracts and procurements.
Data on business characteristics—including if a business is owned by a socially disadvantaged individual—are key pieces of information for ITD to understand the businesses in the marketplace that could perform work on the agency’s contracts and procurements. As part of availability surveys, Davis Research will collect information on the experiences of business owners that may indicate their status as socially disadvantaged. BBC will also rely on statistical modeling to estimate the availability of socially disadvantaged businesses for ITD work.
The study will be completed in February 2027.
Information from the availability study will help inform ITD’s implementation of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and other contracting inclusion efforts. Among other information, the study will also provide analyses related to:
- Quantitative and qualitative evidence of marketplace barriers that may impact the availability of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses for ITD work;
- Setting ITD’s next overall DBE goal for the participation of DBEs in the United States Department of Transportation-funded projects it awards; and
- Refinements ITD could make to its contracting policies and program measures to better encourage the participation of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in its projects.
Yes, the results of the availability study will be published by ITD at the end of the process.
There are several ways in which you can participate in the 2026 ITD Availability Study:
- Share your experiences working in the local marketplace or with ITD by emailing the project team directly at: ITDDisparityStudy@bbcresearch.com.
- Join us for a public meeting where you can learn more about the study process, ask questions, and share insights about your experiences working in the marketplace.
- If you represent a business located in the local marketplace, BBC and Davis Research may contact you to participate in a survey to collect information about your business’ characteristics. If you are contacted, please participate!
- If you represent a business located in the local marketplace, you may be contacted by Atlas Strategic Communications to participate in an in-depth interview to share your insights about working in the region and with ITD specifically. If you are contacted, please participate!
- Call the Contacts for the ITD Availability Study if you have questions.
Contacts
Theresa Nelson, BBC Research & Consulting Project Manager
P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707
208-303-952-3805
TNelson@IBBCResearch.com
Ronnie Winks, DBE Program Manager
P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707
208-334-8567
Ronnie.Winks@ITD.Idaho.gov
Asali Crisp, Civil Rights Program Manager
P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707
208-334-8884
Asali.Crisp@ITD.Idaho.gov
Study Analyses
The availability study will focus on construction, professional services, nonprofessional services and other goods contracts and procurements ITD awarded between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2026. The core purpose of the study will be to examine the percentage of contract dollars one might expect ITD to award to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of ITD contracts and procurements.
The study will also examine other information related to:
- Marketplace conditions in the local marketplace for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses;
- Contracting policies and business assistance programs ITD currently has in place; and
- Program measures for ITD to consider implementing to further encourage the participation of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in its work.
Study Progress & Schedule
ITD will provide regular updates about BBC’s progress on the availability study throughout its course. Please check back periodically for those updates.