The Idaho Transportation Department is seeking your input regarding any disparities evident in the participation of minority-owned businesses working with the department on any projects using federal funds under the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. A DBE is a small business that is at least 51% owned by a minority, female or an economically disadvantaged individual.
Specifically, ITD is trying to determine whether any marketplace barriers exist that make it more difficult for those disadvantaged businesses to compete for ITD contracts and procurements.
ITD commissioned BBC Research & Consulting to conduct the disparity study. The study is done every three years by a third-party vendor to go over the agency’s DBE goal as a whole. To foster equal opportunity and ensure non-discrimination to disadvantaged groups, a goal is set for each federally funded project that will go towards the agency’s overall goal.
The Office of Civil Rights monitors the DBE program and helps set goals on each project. The disparity study will analyze any barriers that prevent those disadvantaged businesses from getting USDOT funded contracts and any barriers ITD (and the sub-recipients of USDOT funds) have in getting DBEs to participate in USDOT-funded projects.
A pair of public meetings, on Oct. 19 in Boise and Oct. 20 in Coeur d’Alene, will be conducted to gather input. Both in-person and by-phone options will be available.
Boise, ID | Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022
6:00 p.m – 7:30 p.m. MDT
Participation in-person is available at the following location:
ITD Chinden Campus | 11331 W. Chinden Blvd, Boise
Enter through the west side of Building 8 | Long Bridge Room
Participation via phone or Webex is also available:
Oct. 19 – Join Online Webex Meeting
Meeting number (Access Code): 2453 034 2017
Meeting password: fMjJXxyw787
Join by phone at: +1-415-655-0003 US Toll
Meeting will also be broadcast at your local ITD district office.
Coeur d’Alene, ID | Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022
6:00 p.m – 7:30 p.m. PDT
Participation in-person is available at the following location:
600 W Prairie Ave, Coeur d’Alene
Main Conference Room
Participation via phone or Webex is also available:
Oct. 20 – Join Online Webex Meeting
Meeting number (Access Code): 2457 198 7149
Meeting password: m2rJcYi3v5G
Join by phone at: +1-415-655-0003 US Toll
Meeting will also be broadcast at your local ITD district office.
If you have any questions about the disparity study or its implications for ITD, please email Ronnie Winks, DBE Program Coordinator, or phone her at 208-334-8567.
“We invite everyone, internal and external, to come and make a comment about their experience with the DBE program and the DBE goal, including any concerns they have, so the third-party vendor can get a clear and accurate information for this study,” Winks explained.
“The results of this study will impact the DBE goal for the next three years on projects for ITD, and the sub-recipients of USDOT funds, so any and all comments/concerns will make an impact on any future work.”
- For more information go to: ITD Disparity Study website
- E-mail your comments to: ITDDisparityStudy@bbcresearch.com