PORT OF PORTLAND, OREGON
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Disparity Study
PROJECT BACKGROUND
MGT conducted a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Disparity Study for the Port of
Portland (Port) to determine whether there was a compelling interest to justify
race- and gender-conscious elements of the disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE)
program and airport concessionaire disadvantaged business enterprise (ACDBE) program
for the Port.
The study included an analysis of disadvantaged business enterprise availability
and utilization in construction, construction- related services, procurement of
goods and services, and concessions. A marine component was also included.
OBJECTIVES
MGT experts were brought in to determine if there were disparities in procurement
related to the race, ethnicity, or gender of businesses utilized by the Port. If,
in fact, any disparities were found, the Port requested that MGT present evidence
on various factors that might account for the disparities.
METHODOLOGY
The study consisted of fact-finding to determine:
- Whether existing Port efforts had eliminated active and passive discrimination
- Port procurement trends and practices for concessions for the study period
- Evaluation of various options for future program development for minority women,
disadvantaged, and airport concessionaire firms (M/W/DBEs and ACDBEs)
PROJECT OUTCOME
There was evidence supporting the reestablishment of race and gender conscious DBE
goals in construction subcontracting and architecture and engineering services.
The study found significant dollar utilization of M/WBE concessionaires that were
not certified ACDBEs. There was at least some evidence of private sector disparities
for all M/W/ACDBE ethnic gender groups in addition to limited evidence of disparity
for Port concessions.
This evidence provided a factual predicate for some use of DBE goals for concessions
for all M/W/ACDBE ethnic/gender groups.