CDOT Disparity Study: Anecdotal Information Gathering

The 2008 Disparity Study commissioned by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) intends to provide evidence, in accordance with current case law, to determine whether or not, and to what extent, the need for remedial programs for racial or gender discrimination are appropriate. This Disparity Study will determine what facts exist to support current and future efforts for programs that enhance the use of minority- and women-owned businesses.

As a business owner, one way to participate in the Disparity Study is to provide testimony regarding your experiences with contracting or subcontracting, or attempting to do so, on any CDOT projects. If your firm does work related to roadway construction, architecture, engineering or professional design and if you have tried to contract with CDOT or prime contractors working under an agreement with CDOT, we would like to know about your experiences.

The information we will be seeking includes, but is not limited to:

• whether or not firms face difficulties or barriers when bidding as prime contractors, subcontractors, or vendors;
• whether or not business owners believe they have been treated fairly or unfairly based upon their race, ethnicity or gender;
• whether or not prime contractors solicit, or fail to solicit, bids or price quotes from DBE's on non-goal projects;
• whether or not there is a level playing field for firms in access to capital, bonding and insurance.