PROFESSIONAL PAPERS
Oct 1, 1987

Suggestions for Increasing DBE Contractors Participation

Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering
Volume 113, Issue 4

Abstract

The Surface Transportation Act of 1982, which increased DBE participation in public construction work, has caused continuing controversy. To determine how best to increase such participation with the least controversy, a study was conducted in Florida. A literature search and interviews with bankers, bonding agents, and government and trade association officers were conducted to obtain more potential solutions for increasing DBE participation. Questionnaires were then designed and sent to both DBE and non‐DBE contractors to determine which suggestions would boost DBE participation the most. This paper reports the research results and describes the methodologies used. Although the research did not result in unanimously accepted suggestions, both DBE and non‐DBE contractors who were surveyed volunteered suggestions that they believed would benefit DBE participation. These suggestions urgently need to be implemented, and their implementation would have the fewest political roadblocks.

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References

1.
“A Survey of Minority Construction Contractors,” Office of the Assistant Secretary for Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C., 1979.
2.
Chang, L.‐M., and Rahman, H. A., “Increasing Minority Participation in the Construction Industry in Florida—Phase I,” Technical Publication No. 38, School of Building Construction, University of Florida, Apr., 1985.
3.
“Court finds MBE Set‐Aside Legal,” Engineering News Record, Vol. 205, No. 2, 1980, pp. 12–13.
4.
“DOT issues tough MBE rules,” Engineering News Record, Mar. 10, 1983, p. 58.
5.
“DOT Firm on MBE Requirement,” Engineering News Record, Apr. 7, 1983, p. 58.
6.
“DOT Clarifies Policy on Minority Participation,” Engineering News Record, Apr. 14, 1983, p. 59.
7.
“EPA Clears Air on MBE's” Engineering News Record, Vol. 210, No. 15, 1983, p. 59.
8.
Glover, R. W., “Minority Enterprise in Construction,” Praeger Special Studies, New York, N.Y., 1977.
9.
“Grant Promotes Minority Builders,” Engineering News Record, July 11, 1968, pp. 27–29.
10.
Jacksonville Community Council, Inc., “Business Study,” Report to the citizens of Jacksonville, Fla., Summer, 1985.
11.
Koehn, E., and Espaillat, C. A., “Costs and Benefits on MBE Rules in Construction,” Vol. 110, No. 2, 1984, pp. 236–247.
12.
Li, S.‐T., “State of Minority Contractor Participation,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, Vol. 103, No. CO2, 1977, pp. 289–293.
13.
U.S. General Accounting Office, Report to the Congress of the U.S., Minority Firms on Local Public work Projects—Mixed Results, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1979, pp. 1–7.

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Published In

Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering
Volume 113Issue 4October 1987
Pages: 371 - 388

History

Published online: Oct 1, 1987
Published in print: Oct 1987

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Authors

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Luh‐Maan Chang, M. ASCE
Asst. Prof., School of Civ. Eng., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907

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