FAQs

What is a Disparity Study?

A disparity study examines whether there are differences between:

  • The percentage of dollars minority and woman-owned businesses (including small business enterprises, or SBEs) received on an agency’s prime contracts and subcontracts during a particular time period (utilization); and
  • The percentage of dollars those businesses would be expected to receive based on their availability to perform on the agency's prime contracts and subcontracts (availability).

The comparison between the participation of minority and woman-owned businesses in an agency's contracting and the availability of those businesses to perform that work is referred to as a disparity analysis. In addition to utilization, availability, and disparity analyses, disparity studies typically examine other quantitative and qualitative information about:

  • Legal considerations surrounding the implementation of small business and minority and woman-owned business programs;
  • Conditions in the local marketplace for minorities, women, and minority and woman-owned businesses;
  • Contracting practices and business assistance programs the agency currently has in place; and
  • Potential program measures for consideration as part of the agency's implementation of small business and minority and woman-owned business programs.

Why is Hamilton County conducting a disparity study?

Hamilton County (the County) would like to assess its efforts to encourage the participation of underrepresented businesses in its contracting. In addition, the County would like to establish a benchmark for the participation of small businesses and minority and woman-owned businesses and determine what, if any, improvements are needed to optimize the County’s contracting processes.

When will the disparity study be completed?

The study will be completed on July 30, 2022.

What types of contracts are being studied?

The disparity study will examine prime contracts and subcontracts the County let within a five-year period (e.g. January 1, 2016 through June 30, 2021). The study will focus on construction, professional services, and goods and services contracts and procurements.

What will Hamilton County do with information from the disparity study?

Information the project team collects as a part of the 2021 Hamilton County Disparity Study will help the agency refine its implementation of the SBE Program. Among other information, the disparity study will provide:

  • An independent, objective review of outcomes for small businesses and minority and woman-owned businesses in the County's prime contracts and subcontracts. That information will be valuable to both Hamilton County leadership and external groups that help assess the agency’s efforts to encourage underrepresented businesses to bid on its contracts.
  • Information that is useful for setting a benchmark for the participation of small businesses and minority and woman-owned businesses; and
  • Insights about how the County might improve contracting opportunities for underrepresented businesses and how it could better encourage the participation of small businesses and minority and woman-owned businesses in the future.

Will the results of disparity study be made public?

Yes, the results of the disparity study will be made public at the end of the process.

How can I participate in the disparity study process?

There are several ways in which you can participate in the 2021 Hamilton County Disparity Study:

  • Share your experiences working in the local marketplace by emailing the project team directly at [email protected].
  • Join us for a community meeting where you can learn more about the disparity study process, submit verbal or written testimony, and ask questions. For details about the community meetings, click here.
  • If you represent a local business or have worked with the County in the past, you may be contacted as a part of the business survey process. If you are contacted, please help the project team by participating!
  • Call us if you have any unanswered questions about the study. For our contact information, click here.