Aviation Press Releases

May 21, 2010

Sky Harbor Releases Completed Disparity Study

The City of Phoenix has completed the Airport Concessions Disparity Study, performed by its consultant, Exstare Federal Services Group. The purpose of the study was to determine if Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s) have had an equal opportunity to compete for and participate in the concessions opportunities at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. In 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which sets rules for how airports procure and administer contracts, advised airports to suspend race and gender-conscious goals in airport concessions contracts if the airport had insufficient evidence of discrimination. The FAA also advised airports to conduct a study of the issue in their communities.

Key findings of the study:

• Sky Harbor has consistently met or exceeded previously set goals for participation by DBEs, and no evidence of disparity exists.
• There is a very strong pool of minority, women and non-minority-owned small businesses in the local and the national market, which have and may continue to compete for and participate in airport contracts.

Based on the findings, the study recommends that race and gender not be considered in airport concessions contracts but there should be appropriate outreach to all small businesses.

As a result, the City is recommending that proposers provide strong evidence of efforts to reach out to and negotiate with small businesses when responding to concessions contract opportunities. Not doing so will disqualify proposers from the process.

The City remains committed to using race and gender-neutral measures aimed at assuring the continued participation of minority and women-owned businesses as well as non-minority small businesses.

Public hearings will be held in the Terminal 3 board room June 15 at 10am and 4pm and again June 25 at 2pm to discuss the results of the study and get community feedback. More information and a complete copy of the study are available at skyharbor.com under jobs and business. The public may call 602-273-4391 for more information.