Study finds Nashville Airport making strides in small, women, and minority business contracting

TN News - Published Jul 06, 2015

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) published the results of its Small, Minority and Woman-owned Business Enterprise (SMWBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) disparity study at the end of June.

The study found that, overall, MNAA has implemented reasonably effective initiatives that have led to SMWBE and DBE participation on MNAA contract. However, the report also notes that the MNAA should expand its efforts to include SMWBE and DBE firms in the procurement process.

To boost contracting with SMWBE and DBE firms, the study recommends that the MNAA:

Host matchmaking sessions where SMWBE and DBE firms can network with prime contractors; Unbundle contracts to make them easier for SMWBEs and DBEs to bid on as prime contractors; Create a small contractor bonding and financing program; and Use SMWBE and DBE participation goals on individual goals that prime contractors must make a good faith effort to meet.

The disparity study's executive summary can be reviewed at http://www.flynashville.com/business-diversity-development/Documents/ExecutiveSummaryFINAL.pdf