What is an availability study?
An availability study examines the percentage of dollars that small, minority-, woman-, veteran, and LGBTQ-owned businesses would be expected to receive based on their availability to perform on the agency’s contracts. Availability studies also typically examine other quantitative and qualitative information about conditions in the marketplace for small and diverse businesses; contracting practices and business assistance programs the agency currently has in place; and program measures an agency could use to encourage the participation of small and diverse businesses in its work.
What is the difference between an availability study and a disparity study?
Disparity studies also include a disparity analysis in addition to the availability analysis, which compares availability with participation. Disparity study results are often used to legally support the use of program measures specifically designed to increase the participation of minority- or woman-owned businesses, such as race- or gender-based subcontracting goals. Since this study only includes an availability analysis, BBC will not provide recommendations of that nature.
How does BBC measure availability?
BBC uses a custom census approach to measure availability—which accounts for specific business and project characteristics such as work type, role, size, capacity, location, and interest in City work. To collect this information, BBC conducts telephone and online surveys with businesses in the marketplace. The availability analysis focuses on specific areas of work associated with the contracts the City awarded between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2025 (the study period), which serves as a proxy for the work it might award in the future. Importantly, BBC’s methodology follows the current legal standard for availability studies, which is necessary so that the City can legally use the analysis to support any contracting inclusion policies it adopts.
How does BBC decide who to survey?
BBC uses a service called Dun & Bradstreet to collect contact information for thousands of businesses in the Columbus area that perform the types of work the City has awarded historically. We then conduct the survey through a random, representative sampling process that reflects the characteristics of businesses in the geographic area. All greater Columbus businesses can share information through the questionnaire or email submission even if they are not selected for the survey.
What if my business is not in Dun & Bradstreet?
Dun & Bradstreet is the most complete and comprehensive database of businesses in the country. A business owner does not have to register with Dun & Bradstreet to be included in the database, as it relies on various sources such as business registrations to collect business information. That said, if a business is not listed in Dun & Bradstreet, that business will not be in the pool of potential businesses to be contacted by our survey team. Any business may complete a questionnaire or email submission to offer testimony for the study.
To ensure our analysis is inclusive, we also model our results using U.S. census data to guarantee our data accurately reflects the demographics of the Columbus business community.
Why haven’t I received a call?
Not every business in the Columbus area will receive a call to take the survey. The goal of BBC’s survey process is to collect information from an unbiased set of businesses that appropriately represents the entire relevant business population. Any business may complete a questionnaire or email submission for the study.
What will the City do with the availability study results?
The City will use the availability study results to establish a benchmark for the participation of minority-, woman-, veteran, and LGBTQ-owned businesses based on the availability of those businesses for the specific types of contracts and procurements it awards. The City will also use the availability study results to inform and refine its contracting inclusion measures, including the Small Regional Business Enterprise Program.
What will BBC do with my testimony?
When you write us, fill out a questionnaire, or send in a voice memo, someone at BBC will compile that testimony so we can use it as evidence to inform our recommendations for how the City can increase the participation of small and diverse businesses. We will present the relevant themes in the availability study report as well as corresponding quotes, but any quote we include will be presented anonymously.
Will BBC be analyzing the availability of businesses whose owner falls into multiple demographic categories (e.g., minority women business owners)?
BBC will present availability analysis results separately for minority- and White woman-owned businesses. Results for businesses owned by minority women will be reflected in the results for minority business owners. This approach reflects nuances in the legal standards applicable to availability and disparity studies, as well as practical considerations related to implementing contracting inclusion program measures. However, BBC recognizes that business owners may identify with multiple demographic groups and that these overlapping identities can shape their experiences in the marketplace. Accordingly, BBC will examine the intersection of these identities as part of the contextual marketplace analysis, which will also inform recommendations to the City.
Will the results of the study be made public?
Yes, the results of the availability study will be made public at the end of the process. The report is expected to be published in early 2027.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
You can contact BBC’s Project Manager, Juliette Kokernot:
Juliette Kokernot
Project Manager
BBC Research & Consulting
303-952-3806
jkokernot@bbcresearch.com