WORKFORCE DIVERSIFICATION

According to the State Human Resources Division, discrimination complaints are significant. In order to reduce the number of complaints within the South Carolina Department of Transportation, this project on workplace diversification was devised. Diversification has benefits in the workplace that include increased adaptability, broader service range, variety of viewpoints, and more effective execution . Increased adaptability allows employees from diverse backgrounds to bring individual talents and experience to the workplace. A broader service range allows employees with different skills and experience such as language to provide additional services. Improving the diversification will ultimately align this agency with an Affirmative Action Plan and decrease discrimination complaints.

Evaluating Methods of Calculating the Fixed Fee on Professional Service Contracts

The South Carolina Department of Transportation routinely retains Professional Consulting Engineering firms to provide engineering design and related professional services for the preparation of construction plans or design-build Request for Proposal bid packages for a wide variety of Federal-aid Highway Program roadway and bridge construction projects throughout South Carolina.The purpose of this project is to examine the current process of determining a "Fair and Reasonable" fixed fee for professional service contracts and to evaluate possible alternative methods including practices in other states that may improve the process, particularly in light of the considerable variation in audited overhead rates among consulting firms. In reviewing such alternative methods particular attention will be given to evaluating the potential impact of the method as an incentive to consulting firms to effectively manage their overhead costs.