Portsmouth Public Schools

Miller³ Consulting, Inc. has been selected to lead the Portsmouth Public Schools 2019 Procurement Disparity Study.

Miller³ Consulting, Inc. is a minority-owned, second generation consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA, that has more than 30 years of experience in inclusive policy initiatives, disparity study analysis and M/WBE program design. To learn more about Miller³ Consulting, Inc., visit www.miller3group.com.

employ its exclusive 10-part analyses broken down into three areas: Industry Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Market Analysis. 

These 10 analyses elements reflect the continuing development of case law that has increased the level and sophistication of the statistical analysis necessary to comply with Croson and Adarand standards:

1. Legal Analysis outlines the legal standards of Richmond v. Croson, Adarand v. Pena and their progeny, particularly the 4^th Circuit, and in addition any other cases around the country. Such a legal analysis provides critical insight to current judicial opinions relevant to both M/WBE program design and disparity study analysis.
2. Procurement and M/WBE Program Operational Analyses qualitatively and quantitatively examines PPS’ current contracting practices to determine the impact of PPS’ policies, procedures and practices on M/WBEs’ ability to do business with PPS, along with the effectiveness of the M/WBE program operations on increasing M/WBE participation. 
3. Relevant Market Analysis determines the geographical boundaries within which PPS performs the substantial part of its business activities.  The identification of the bounds is also guided by legal criterion that PPS must refine its efforts to impact M/WBE business activity to its political jurisdiction. 
4. Availability Analysis determines the available M/WBE and non-M/WBE firms who are available to do business with PPS within the determined relevant market.
5. Utilization Analysis quantitatively examines PPS’ contracting history and determines the number of contracts and levels of expenditures with M/WBEs.
6. Disparity Analysis determines the difference between the availability of M/WBEs and their utilization by PPS.
7. Capacity Analyses will examine differences in capacity of firms based on race and gender using established statistical methods and also examine whether race/gender and ethnicity still impact the participation decision once a set of variables that proxy capacity are controlled for.
8. Anecdotal and Survey Analyses determine the experiences of M/WBEs and non-M/WBEs attempting to do business with PPS and in the business community overall.   Further, the survey provides information on business characteristics, such as owner qualifications, years in business, capacity, and credit market experiences.
9. Race- and Gender-Neutral Analysis determines the effectiveness of race- and gender-neutral programs in increasing M/WBE participation in both public and private sector opportunities.
10. Marketplace Analyses determine M/WBE participation in both public and private sector opportunities.  Factors such as education and employment, as well as other factors that impact business formation and self-employment are also analyzed in this analysis.  We also examine the market for nascent business opportunities and barriers for firms to start construction related businesses.

Project start date: September 2019

Anticipated project end date: September 2020