More troubles for MnDOT

MnDOT's performance from 2000-2004

MnDOT hired NERA, National Economic Research Associates, an international consulting firm, to assess the agency's performance in attaining its goals of hiring disadvantaged economic enterprises, or DBEs, on major contracts from 2000-2004.

NERA delivered its report to MnDOT in 2005, but it was not released by the agency until MPR News learned of the study and requested a copy.

NERA's survey of MnDOT contracts awarded from 2000 to 2004 found the agency's DBE attainment was 5.5 percent, when the NERA consultants estimated the available pool of DBEs would have allowed MnDOT to attain a level of more than 15 percent.

________________________________________________

ESTIMATED DBE UTILIZATION ON MNDOT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS (Federally assisted; prime contracts and subcontracts; first-tier, or largest, contracts from 2000-2004)

Total contract dollars issued during this period: $2,761,316,327.

Percentage of dollars awarded to contractors in the following categories:

White male: 94.45 percent ($2.6 billion)

White female: 3.71 percent ($102.5 million)

Black: .54 percent ($14.8 million)

Hispanic: .45 percent ($12.5 million)

Asian/Pacific: .46 percent ($12.8 million)

Native American: .38 percent ($10.5 million)

Total of all DBEs: 5.5 percent ($153.2 million)

Total of MBEs (Minority business enterprises -- excludes white females): 1.84 percent ($50.7 million)

(Source: NERA Economic Consulting)