Business, Jobs & Social Responsibility

Disparity Study

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) commissioned BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) to conduct a disparity study to assess whether local, small, person of color- (POC-), or woman-owned businesses face any barriers as part of LAWA’s contracting processes. Information from the study will help LAWA evaluate and refine their efforts to encourage the participation of local business, small businesses, as well as POC- and woman-owned businesses in their contracts and procurements and help inform any refinements LAWA might make to its implementations of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program.

Study Analyses

The disparity study will focus on construction, professional services, and non-professional services and supplies prime contracts and subcontracts, as well as concessions agreements, that LAWA awarded between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023 (the study period). The core purpose of the disparity study will be to examine whether there are any disparities between:

  • The percentage of contract and procurement dollars LAWA spent with local, small, POC-, and woman-owned businesses during the study period (utilization); and
  • The percentage of contract dollars one might expect LAWA to award to local, small, POC-, and woman-owned businesses based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of LAWA contracts and procurements (availability).

The study will also examine other information related to:

  • Legal considerations surrounding LAWA’s implementations of the Federal DBE and ACDBE Programs;
  • Marketplace conditions throughout Los Angeles for POCs, women; and local businesses, small businesses, POC-, and woman-owned businesses;
  • Contracting policies and business assistance programs LAWA currently has in place; and
  • Program measures for LAWA to consider implementing to further encourage the participation of POC- and woman-owned businesses in their work.

Study Schedule

BBC initiated the disparity study in June 2024 and will complete the study at the end of April 2025. For the study schedule, click here .

Key Contacts

If you have any questions or comments regarding the disparity study, please contact:

Amber Meshack
Director, Business, Jobs, & Social Responsibility
Los Angeles World Airports
(t) 424.646.7300
(e) ameshack@lawa.org

Alternatively, you can contact a member of the project team directly:
Sameer Bawa
Managing Director
BBC Research & Consulting
(t) 303-321-2547 ext. 247
(e) sbawa@bbcresearch.com

Stephanie Ayers
Head of Projects and Deliverables
BBC Research & Consulting
(t) 303-321-2547 ext. 249
(e) sayers@bbcresearch.com
or at:
lawadisparitystudy@bbcresearch.com

Study Progress

LAWA will provide regular updates about BBC’s progress on the disparity study throughout its course. Please check back periodically for those updates.

Project initiation. LAWA and BBC kicked off the disparity study in June 2024 with a series of meetings with various LAWA departments and representatives. BBC introduced the study, answered questions, and began the process of understanding contracting and vendor data LAWA maintains. For the initiation presentation, click here.

Data collection. BBC has begun working with LAWA to collect data on contracts and procurements LAWA awarded during the study period as well as information about the vendors that participated in that work.

Public meetings. The project team conducted two in-person public meetings in Los Angeles on July 17, 2024. During the meetings, BBC presented information about the disparity study, answered questions, and solicited participants for any verbal or written insights regarding their experiences working in the Los Angeles area.

Next steps. BBC will engage in the following disparity study tasks in the coming months:

  • Public meetings. The project team will conduct two additional virtual public meetings. During the public meetings, BBC will present information about the disparity study, answer any questions, and solicit participants for any verbal or written insights they would like to share regarding their experiences working in the Los Angeles area. Please participate and make sure your insights are included as part of the study process! View the Events tab for more information.
  • Data collection. The project team will continue to work with LAWA to collect data on the contracts and procurements LAWA awarded during the study period and the vendors that participated in that work.
  • Data analysis. BBC will begin the data analysis process by compiling data it receives from LAWA and assessing the subindustries that account for the majority of LAWA contracting and procurement; the geographical area that accounts for the vast majority of vendors that compete for that work (relevant geographic market area, or RGMA); and the percentage of total contract dollars that POC- and woman-owned businesses received on LAWA prime contracts, subcontracts, and concessions agreements during the study period.
  • Availability surveys. The project team will begin conducting availability surveys with businesses in the RGMA that perform work relevant to LAWA contracting and procurement. If we contact your business, please participate in the survey process to help ensure an accurate and comprehensive study!
  • In-depth interviews. The project team will begin conducting in-depth interviews with business owners throughout the Los Angeles area. The interviews will provide BBC with detailed information about marketplace conditions related to starting a business, trying to grow a business, working with local public agencies, and a variety of other topics. If we contact your business, please participate in the interview process to help ensure an accurate and comprehensive study!
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