The City and BBC initiated the 2017-18 City of Virginia Beach Disparity Study in September 2017 with a series of in-person meetings with various City departments and representatives. BBC met with the City to introduce the study, answer questions, and begin the process of understanding contracting and vendor data that the City maintains.
Data collection and analysis. BBC began working with the City in September 2017 to collect data on contracts that the City awarded during the study period (July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017) as well as information about the vendors that participated in those contracts. The study team began analyzing data that it collected from the City to assess the subindustries that account for the majority of City contracting and the geographical area that is most relevant to City contracting.
Public hearings. The BBC study team conducted three public hearings in Virginia Beach: one on Monday, October 16, 2017; one on Tuesday, October 17, 2017; and one on Wednesday, October 18, 2017. During the public hearings, BBC presented information about the disparity study, answered questions, and solicited participants for verbal or written testimony that they would like to share regarding their experiences working in the local marketplace.
Availability telephone surveys. The study team began conducting availability telephone surveys with businesses in the relevant geographic market area that perform work that is relevant to City contracting. The study team began those availability surveys in February 2018 and will continue to contact businesses through the summer of 2018.
In-depth interviews. The study team started conducting in-depth interviews in March 2018. Interviews have been conducted with local business owners to collect insights related to experiences working in the local marketplace; starting or expanding a business; working with the City; and various other topics. Insights from the interviews are invaluable to helping the study team better understand local market conditions and to identify potential barriers that firms face when trying to establish or grow their businesses.
Next steps. BBC will engage in the following disparity study tasks in the coming months:
- Public testimony, the study team will continue to collect written testimony from local business owners and stakeholders related to experiences working in the local marketplace. If you would like to share your insights, please email the study team directly at VBdisparitystudy@BBCresearch.com.
- Availability telephone surveys, the study team will continue conducting availability telephone surveys with businesses in the relevant geographic market area that perform work that is relevant to City contracting. Availability telephone surveys will continue through the summer of 2018. If we contact your business, please participate in the survey process to help ensure an accurate and comprehensive availability analysis!
- Utilization telephone surveys, the study team will begin conducting utilization telephone surveys with businesses that performed on a relevant City contract. Utilization telephone surveys will continue through the summer of 2018. If we contact your business, please participate in the survey process to help ensure an accurate and comprehensive utilization analysis!
- In-depth interviews, the study team will continue conducting in-depth interviews with local business owners to collect insights related to experiences working in the local marketplace; starting or expanding a business; working with the City; and various other topics. Insights from the interviews are invaluable to helping the study team better understand local market conditions and to identify potential barriers that firms face when trying to establish or grow their businesses.