June 2019: Benjamin Rosa

How do you see your work contributing to the goals and vision of IIHCC?
When the government procures products and services from outside vendors, one of its main objectives is promoting a marketplace in which smaller, less established businesses can compete with larger firms. Otherwise, lack of competition might lead to few firms competing for most of the government’s contracts. My work deals with this issue of equity in public procurement, primarily in the domain of construction projects. There, I focus on how to design a marketplace that results in an equitable distribution of projects across firms.

As an example, in construction procurement, which is usually conducted through compet-itive bidding, the government can implement a bid discount whereby smaller firms have their bid lowered by a pre-specified percent for comparison purposes yet are paid their full asking price if they win. Higher discount levels make smaller firms more competitive, so I look for the discount that produces an equitable allocation of construction projects between firms. As such, I see my work contributing to IIHCC’s embracement of equity in the human condition. By designing markets that ensure every business—regardless of its size or ownership—has a fair opportunity to compete, I view my work as a contribution towards equitable well-being.

What other areas outside of your discipline would you entertain for future research and proposal work?
There are a couple of areas outside of my discipline that I would strongly consider for future research. One that comes to mind is political science. In my research, I can find the perfect bid dis-count, but enacting it requires political support.

I am, therefore, interested in the political process surrounding the creation and passing of these affirmative action policies. Since much of my work is on construction projects, I believe that collaboration with colleagues in construction management would also be beneficial. In addition to improving the marketplace, better construction practices can also ensure that smaller firms can compete with larger ones.