For Immediate Release

Baltimore, MD - April 2005 - Optimal Solutions Group (Optimal), subcontractor to National Economic Research Associates (NERA), begins work on a contract to design and conduct focus groups for the Baltimore City Disparity Study. The study aims to identify the strengths and shortcomings of the City's MBE/WBE program. Optimal's role in the project involves focus group protocol planning, participant identification, focus group administration, and report composition.

This contract adds to Optimal's expanding expertise in focus group design and administration that includes work for HHS's Supporting Healthy Marriage project and the DC Energy Office's RES Participation Focus Group project. The contract also enhances Optimal's capacity to conduct objective studies that determine disparities in the health and procurement fields.

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OPTIMAL has served the needs of numerous governmental and commercial clients, including federal and state agencies, community-based organizations, business associations, and law firms.

For more information, contact Mark Turner, 443.451.7060 or mturner@optimalsolutionsgroup.com.