2026 Availability Study

The City of Columbus (the City) has commissioned BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) to conduct an availability study to assess whether person of color- (POC-), woman-, veteran-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses face any barriers as part of the City’s contract and procurement processes. Information from the study will help inform the City’s efforts to encourage the participation of small, POC-, woman-, veteran-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses in its work.

Study analyses

The purpose of the study will be to examine the percentage of dollars POC-, woman-, veteran-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses might be expected to receive based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of City contracts and procurements (availability).

The study will also provide information related to:

  • Marketplace conditions for POCs, women, veterans, and people that identify as LGBTQ; and POC-, woman-, veteran-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses;
  • Contracting practices and business assistance programs the City currently has in place; and
  • Recommendations related to policies and programs the City could consider implementing to encourage the participation of POC-, woman-, veteran-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses in its work.

Study schedule

BBC initiated the availability study in April 2026 and will complete the study at the end of January 2027.

Key contacts

If you have any questions or comments regarding the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study, please contact:

Dr. Kenyona Walker
Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Office of Diversity and Inclusion, City of Columbus
614-645-5817
knwalker@columbus.gov

Alternatively, you can contact the project team directly at:

Sameer Bawa
BBC Managing Director
BBC Research & Consulting
303-952-3800
sbawa@bbcresearch.com

Juliette Kokernot
Project Manager
BBC Research & Consulting
303-952-3806
jkokernot@bbcresearch.com

Study Progress

The City will provide regular updates about BBC’s progress on the availability study. Please check back periodically for those updates.

Project initiation

The City and BBC initiated the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study with a series of meetings with various City agencies and representatives. BBC met with the City to introduce the study, answer questions, and begin the process of understanding contracting and vendor data the City maintains.

Data collection

BBC began working with the City in April 2026 to collect data on contracts and procurements the City awarded during the study period as well as information about the vendors that participated in that work.

Next steps

BBC will engage in the following availability study tasks in the coming months:

  • Public meetings. In June and July 2026, the project team will conduct a series of virtual and in-person public meetings. During the sessions, BBC will present information about the availability study, answer any questions, and solicit participants for any verbal or written insights they would like to share regarding their experiences working in the Columbus.  Please participate and make sure your insights are included as part of the study process!
  • Data collection. The project team will continue to work with the City to collect data on contracts and procurements it awarded during the study period and the vendors that participated in that work.
  • Relevant product markets and geography. The project team will begin analyzing data it collects from the City to identify the subindustries that account for the majority of City contracting and procurement dollars as well as the geographical area most relevant to that work.
  • Availability surveys. The project team will begin conducting availability surveys with businesses in the relevant geographic market area that perform work relevant to City contracts and procurements. If we contact your business, please participate in the survey process to help ensure accurate and comprehensive analyses!

Project Team

The 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study includes four firms that possess expertise directly related to conducting the study in a manner that meets the highest industry, research, and legal standards.

BBC

BBC Research & Consulting (BBC)

BBC is a 55-year-old economic and diversity research firm based in Denver, Colorado that will serve as the prime consultant on the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study. The firm has completed more than 150 availability studies for states, cities, universities, and other government agencies across the country. BBC is also considered a national expert in helping agencies develop and refine their implementation of small and disadvantaged business programs. The firm has provided expert testimony related to availability studies and business programs on several different occasions, most recently as part of the successful defense of the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans’) implementation of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, which was based in large part on a 2007 BBC availability study. For more information about BBC, please visit https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.bbcresearch.com__;!!Ibw6q7MDdYV6!RziinIqXWKaAfmLjQVoJU37C9yuQ6kRHsG4_znY-dw65tdchPTacFmAuJD-zX17ZEbkwvG0iAZ4uVl5o7u0btA$ .

Primary contacts:

Sameer Bawa
BBC Managing Director
303-952-3800
sbawa@bbcresearch.com

Juliette Kokernot
Project Manager
303-952-3806
jkokernot@bbcresearch.com

Holland & Knight

Holland & Knight

Holland & Knight is one of the preeminent law firms in the nation with regard to assessing legal issues surrounding availability studies and small and disadvantaged business programs. The firm’s Atlanta office has contributed to more than 75 BBC availability studies, developing the legal framework and analysis for those studies and consulting on legal issues. Holland & Knight recently worked with BBC on availability studies for the City of Virginia Beach, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of Boston, the City and County of Denver, Hamilton County in Ohio, and many other organizations. The firm also provided substantial litigation support to Caltrans in the agency’s successful defense of its implementation of the Federal DBE Program in Associated General Contractors, San Diego Chapter v. Caltrans, a case that involved a BBC availability study. For the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study, Holland & Knight will consult on various legal issues, and review various sections of the availability study report as needed.

Davis Research

Davis Research

Davis Research is a survey fieldwork firm based in Calabasas, California. Since its inception in 1970, it has grown to be one of the nation’s leading survey data collection firms. It consistently delivers sophisticated telephone and online surveys with seamless programming, supremely qualified surveyors, and a customized look and feel. In addition, it offers professional computer-aided telephone interviewing services from its industry-best call centers. The firm’s clients range from one-person consultancies to some of the world’s largest corporations. All of Davis Research’s clients value the intimate attention the firm gives each organization and the high-quality data it delivers. The firm has worked with BBC for the past 15 years on myriad research projects, including disparity studies for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of San Diego, DC Government, the City of Boston, and the State of Indiana. For the 2025 City of City of Columbus Availability Study, Davis Research will conduct online and telephone surveys with hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses in the marketplace, which will serve as the basis for the availability analyses.

Events

The project team is committed to engaging the community throughout the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study. BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) will host various events throughout the course of the availability study to help members of the community understand the purpose of the study and offer opportunities for the attendees to submit insights and comments about their experiences working in the Columbus marketplace. The events schedule will be updated regularly. Please check back periodically for those updates.

Public meetings

During each session, the project team will give a presentation describing the availability study, including its purpose, methodology, and the study schedule. Following the presentation, attendees will be given the opportunity to ask questions and submit verbal or written insights about their experiences working in the Columbus marketplace. Attendees’ comments will be integrated into the project team’s analyses of local marketplace conditions.

FAQs

What is an Availability Study?

An availability study examines the percentage of dollars that POC-, woman-, veteran, and LGBTQ-owned businesses would be expected to receive based on their availability to perform on the agency’s prime contracts and subcontracts (availability).

Availability studies typically examine other quantitative and qualitative information about:

  • Conditions in the marketplace for POC-, woman-, veteran, and LGBTQ-owned businesses;
  • Contracting practices and business assistance programs the agency currently has in place; and
  • Potential program measures the agency could consider using to better encourage the participation of POC-, woman-, veteran, and LGBTQ-owned businesses in its work.

Why is the City conducting an availability study?

The City would like to assess whether POC-, woman-, veteran, and LGBTQ-owned businesses face any barriers as part of its contracting and procurement processes and what policies or programs it could use to better encourage those businesses in its work. In addition, the City would like to establish a benchmark for the participation of POC-, woman-, veteran, and LGBTQ-owned businesses based on the availability of those businesses for the specific types of contracts and procurements it awards.

What types of contracts are being studied?

The availability study will examine construction, professional services, and non-professional services and goods contracts awarded by the City between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2025.

Will the results of availability study be made public?

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

How can I participate in the availability study process?

There are several ways in which you can participate directly in the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study:

  • Share your experiences working in the local marketplace by e-mailing the project team directly at ColumbusAvailability@bbcresearch.com.
  • Join us for a public meeting in June or July where you can learn more about the availability study process, submit verbal or written testimony, and ask questions.
  • If you represent a business working in the local marketplace, you may be contacted to participate in an availability survey. If you are contacted, please help the project team by participating!
  • If you represent a business that has performed work for the City during the study period, you may be contacted to participate in a utilization survey. If you are contacted, please help the project team by participating!
  • Contact us if you have any questions about the study.

Materials

The City of Columbus (the City) will provide access to relevant availability study notes, presentations, and reports below. Please check back periodically for updated documents throughout the course of the study.

  • Availability study information.(PDF, 333KB) A flyer providing basic information about the availability study and its objectives.
  • Project initiation presentation(PDF, 658KB). The City and BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) initiated the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study in April 2026 with a series of meetings with the City. BBC met with the City to introduce the study, answer questions, and begin the process of understanding contracting and vendor data the City maintains.

Comments

Please submit any comments you may have about your experiences working in the Columbus marketplace, working with the City, or about the availability study. Relevant topic areas include:

  • Potential barriers businesses face in being successful or growing in the Columbus marketplace;
  • Contracting opportunities with the City or other government agencies;
  • Business assistance programs the City or other government agencies currently use;
  • Any recommendations for additional business assistance programs the City could consider implementing; and
  • The 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study.

Your comments will be integrated into the project team’s analyses of marketplace conditions after removing any identifying information.

E-mail your comments directly to the project team at ColumbusAvailability@bbcresearch.com.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding the availability study, please contact one of the following individuals:

Sameer Bawa
BBC Managing Director
303-952-3800
sbawa@bbcresearch.com

Juliette Kokernot
Project Manager
303-952-3806
jkokernot@bbcresearch.com

Dr. Kenyona Walker
Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
614-645-5817
knwalker@columbus.gov

You can also e-mail your questions directly to the project team at ColumbusAvailability@bbcresearch.com.

 
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