State of Maryland Disparity Study
State of Maryland Disparity Study
WELCOME
The State of Maryland (“State”) is conducting a comprehensive Utilization and Availability Study (the “Disparity Study”), led by MGT Consulting Group (“MGT”). The overall purpose of the Disparity Study is to determine whether there is racial and/or gender business discrimination in the markets in which the State does business – both public and private sectors.
As part of that process, the State will collect data regarding the availability of firms owned by minorities and women, and the utilization of these firms as contractors and subcontractors in the Maryland marketplace. In addition to analyses of quantitative data, the Disparity Study will also examine qualitative data about business discrimination (to the extent that it exists) provided by business owners, trade associations, business organizations, and other stakeholders.
We encourage ALL business owners to provide information about their experiences, particularly with respect to discrimination, while doing business or attempting to do business with the State of Maryland and other public or private entities in Maryland’s market area. We hope that all firms, not just certified firms, will participate. For ways to get involved, please see the “Business Owner Engagement” page below.
MGT invites ALL business owners and State of Maryland program participants to participate in a Focus Group for the State of Maryland’s Disparity Study. The primary goal of the Focus Group is to identify how racial, ethnic, and gender discrimination, if any, has affected businesses within the State’s marketplace, in both the private and public sectors.
Your insights and experiences are invaluable in highlighting challenges and barriers businesses encounter and will help ensure that the Maryland Disparity Study’s findings are representative of the business community. Even more importantly, your insight and experiences will help the State ensure that their programs for businesses continue to be carefully calibrated to target and eliminate discrimination wherever it exists.
As a token of appreciation for your participation in a Focus Group, MGT is offering a $20 virtual incentive (gift card) at Tremendous.com. This virtual gift card can be redeemed at hundreds of retailers. The incentive will be delivered to your provided email within 72 hours upon completing the Focus Group. This incentive will be available to 300 participants across 15 focus groups.
The bottom line is we need your voice to help maximize the effectiveness of the State’s programs and policies, increase access to opportunities, and enhance the business environment.
Please register for the Focus Group that best represents your line of business as defined below. If they are unsure which group to register for, register for the group that is closest to the work your firm performs.
- Construction: (ex. highway, general construction, excavating, mechanical, carpentry, site work, electrical, etc.)
- Architectural and Engineering Services and Other Construction-Related Services (AE-CRS): (ex. architecture, civil engineering, environmental engineering, etc.)
- Services: (ex. accounting, legal services, janitorial, security, construction management, consultant, etc.)
- Maintenance: (ex. Equipment repair, auto repair, etc.)
- Information Technology (ex. IT consulting, computers, software, etc.)
- Commodity, Supplies, and Equipment (CSE): (ex. office supplies, desks, equipment, etc.)
Program Participant: (ex. cannabis, offshore wind, video lottery, etc.)
To register for a focus group please click on the following link. The link will take you to a series of pre-focus group questions to complete the registration process. The purpose of these pre-focus group questions is to learn more about your firm and target the focus groups to specific issues based on your experiences, if any, with discrimination. The registration process can be completed in 10 minutes or less.
| Day/Time | 9:00 – 11:00 AM | 2:00 – 4:00 PM | 5:00 – 7:00 PM |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2024 | AE-CRS – All Businesses | AE-CRS – Minority & Women Businesses | Construction Subcontractors |
| September 11, 2024 | CSE – All Businesses | Construction Primes – All Businesses | Construction Primes – Minority & Women Businesses |
| September 12, 2024 | IT and Services – Minority & Women Businesses | CSE – Minority & Women Businesses | Construction Subcontractors – Minority & Women Businesses |
| September 17, 2024 | Program Participants-Cannabis | IT and Services– All Businesses | Maintenance– All Businesses |
| September 18, 2024 | Program Participants-All Other | Program Participants- Minority/Women Businesses -Cannabis | Maintenance– Minority & Women Businesses |
Can’t participate in a Focus Group and want to provide your feedback? MGT has contracted Small Planet Works to conduct in-depth, 1:1 interviews with businesses. Schedule your 1:1 interview with Small Planet Works by following this link: Maryland Disparity Study Interview Schedule. You may instead complete a 20-minute online survey by following this link: Maryland Disparity Study Vendor Survey.
Subcontract Data Collection: Firms that hold or had a contract with State of MD Agencies may be contacted by MGT or Armand Resource Group to submit subcontract information for MBE and non-MBE firms. If you are contacted, please promptly respond. If you want to submit your subcontractor data, you can email stateofmddisparitystudy@mgt.us.
Qualitative input from businesses owners via in-depth interviews. To schedule an in-depth interview select one of the firms below and use the link to schedule your interview.
Subcontract Data Collection: Firms that hold or had a contract with State of MD Agencies may be contacted by MGT or Armand Resource Group to submit subcontract information for MBE and non-MBE firms. If you are contacted, please promptly respond. If you want to submit your subcontractor data, you can email stateofmddisparitystudy @mgtconsulting.com.
Qualitative input from businesses owners via in-depth interviews. To schedule an in-depth interview select one of the firms below and use the link to schedule your interview.
Small Planet Works
Janice Banks
Office: 901.521.1129
Walker Benefit Services
Michelle Burch
Office: 443-536-1056
24/7 Email, Voicemail, and Website Comment Form
Input submitted via email, voicemail, or the website is directed to the MGT team only. Responses are considered confidential except to the extent disclosure is required by law.
Business owners may submit their comments regarding their experiences doing business, or attempting to do business, with the State via:
- email to StateofMDdisparitystudy@mgt.us
- call 301-658-3440. An operator will answer your call Monday – Thursday 9 am to 4 pm and Friday from 9 am to 1 pm. After hours calls will be answered within 24 to 48 business hours.
- submit comments using the Disparity Study Contact Form (See Contact Us page below)
Meetings & Surveys
MGT Consulting Group will host meetings and conduct surveys as part of the Study. Further details will be provided as they become available. ASL and other language translations will be made available upon advance request.
24/7 Email, Voicemail, and Website Comment Form
Input submitted via email, voicemail, or the website is directed to the MGT team only. Responses are considered confidential except to the extent disclosure is required by law.
Business owners may submit their comments regarding their experiences doing business, or attempting to do business, with the State via:
- email to StateofMDdisparitystudy @mgt.us
- call 301-658-3440. An operator will answer your call Monday – Thursday 9 am to 4 pm and Friday from 9 am to 1 pm. After hours calls will be answered within 24 to 48 business hours.
- submit comments using the Disparity Study Contact Form (See Contact Us page below)
Meetings & Surveys
MGT Consulting Group will host meetings and conduct surveys as part of the Study. Further details will be provided as they become available. ASL and other language translations will be made available upon advance request.
Disparity Study Contact Form – ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DIRECTED TO THE MGT PROJECT TEAM ONLY. Comments are considered confidential except to the extent disclosure is required by law.
You may use this form to submit written comments about your experiences with the State of Maryland. Please provide details of your experiences doing business, or attempting to do business, with the State or in Maryland’s marketplace. Please be specific in your comments regarding the entities involved, as well as the date and location for the experiences that you share.