Frequently Asked Questions

Disparity studies are a means of providing a factual basis for determining whether there are equal opportunities for all firms to participate in the procurement process and support the need, if any, for remedial procurement programs. The Study will engage in a review of the State’s procurement process, availability and utilization in contracts by all vendors to analyze any barriers to equal access to public contracts for all business owners.

This Study will cover State spending from FY2020-FY2024. If the percentage of actual utilization of firms is less than what is expected based on the percentage of firms that are ready, willing, and able to perform on the State’s contracts (“Availability”), then a “disparity” exists. The Study will also determine whether the disparity is statistically significant enough to suggest whether any action should be taken and what factors are likely to have caused the disparity.

A disparity study process is broken out into several major parts, including statistical and econometric analysis, legal and purchasing practices analysis, private sector analysis, anecdotal evidence analysis, and findings and recommendations. G&S is currently collecting data from the State that will be necessary to determine utilization of firms in the marketplace. Policy Analyst, David Maher, Esq., will conduct a policy review and interviews to understand the internal procurement processes and procedures. Our Data Analyst, Ala’a Mohamed, will then analyze the data to determine the State’s availability and utilization of the study groups. Senior Economist, Dr. Gregory N. Price, will then work with available data to determine, through econometric analyses and an analysis of the marketplace, what factors can be attributed to the identified disparities.

Anecdotal evidence is also crucial to any recommendations we may make to the State. Our anecdotal evidence includes the following:

· Survey of business owners across all industry categories. Firms throughout the State will be contacted, inviting them to complete the survey.

· In-depth anecdotal interviews with businesses in the area, selected randomly from a list of available vendors.

· Focus groups of randomly selected business owners to share their experiences in doing business in and with the State.

· Email comments, informational meeting, and public hearings which will all be open to the public.

Check the website ‘Events’ tab for times and locations of scheduled events.

Other relevant Study processes include an analysis of the State’s legal environment, both locally and federally, and a purchasing practices analysis to better understand the State’s procurement process. The Study team will conduct interviews with the State’s procurement staff regarding their procurement process and the current procurement policies to review whether any barriers to participation exist there.

Finally, G&S will compile a final report containing all the findings from the research above and will provide recommendations to the State regarding the inclusion of all businesses and in its procurement process.

G&S is a law and public policy consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA, with extensive experience in disparity research, program development and supplier diversity consulting. For more information, see: Who We Are or visit us at gspclaw.com.

It is G&S’s goal to have gathered the most representative anecdotal evidence possible from all firms currently in business or desiring to do business with the State. We desire to understand both the practical challenges and barriers, as well as the positive experiences faced by businesses within the marketplace. Your participation would provide further insight into the State’s practices and may shed new light on an area for improvement or substantiate those recounted by others. It is only with your assistance that we will be able to provide the State with substantive recommendations that can make a real impact on their policies, and your experiences, moving forward.

G&S will be conducting an informational meeting and public hearings that are open to the public as well as several focus groups by invitation. We invite business owners and other community members to attend and share their experiences. We will also be posting information about the Study and all related events on this website. Feel free to share your experiences by emailing us at rhodeislanddisparitystudy@gspclaw.com. You can also do the following:

• State your experiences at scheduled meetings
  • Attend an informational meeting, public hearings and/or focus groups. We invite all, including non-business owners, that are interested, to attend and share their experiences at public meetings.
• Tell us your story at your convenience
  • For those who may be generally uncomfortable providing their input in public arenas or who are unable to participate in any other way but, would like to share their experiences doing business with the State, G&S welcomes comments and questions regarding the Study via email.
• When can we read the Study?
  • The projected completion date for the entire Study is January of 2027. Publication of the Study results will be determined by the State and not by Griffin & Strong.