Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
Q. Is there a link on your website or a document listing of minority companies registered with FTA?
A. FTA does not maintain a register of minority owned firms. However, the U.S. DOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business web page lists all States and their DBE Directories at: http://www.osdbu.dot.gov/DBEProgram/StateDOTDBESites.cfm (Posted: December, 2011)
Q. When contract goals are established for DBE/MBE or other minority groups, must contractors meet the goals in order to qualify for award?
A. The FTA Best Practices Procurement Manual (BPPM), Chapter 7, discusses FTA requirements relative to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Section 7.3.5 - "Means of Meeting Overall Goals," provides guidance to grantees on the establishment of contract goals and the Federal preference for using race-neutral means to attain the overall agency goals. When goals are established in solicitations, contractors that cannot achieve the stated goals must furnish evidence in their proposals of the "good faith efforts" they have used to meet the goals. (See Section 7.3.5.4 of the BPPM). The Federal policy is that contractors that demonstrate good faith efforts cannot be disqualified from the contract award on the basis that they failed to meet the stated goals, but must be awarded the contract if they demonstrate and document such good faith efforts. DBE set asides and quotas are not allowed under the DOT DBE rules. Section 7.3.2 of the BPPM discusses the prohibition of set asides and quotas. The BPPM may be found online: http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/thirdpartyprocurement/bppm/grants_financing_6190.html (Posted: January, 2012)
Q. Can a service disabled veteran owned small business (sdvosb) be considered to qualify as a DBE if the FTA's Contracting Officer has a requirement for DBE subcontractor participation in the RFP? Background: We are a new sdvosb start up company seeking to bid on proposals for subcontracts on the installation of technology on public transportation (busses). Many of these proposals require a DBE status by the prime to be considered.
A. The USDOT has an informative web page regarding Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: http://www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/asp/dbe.asp We would encourage you read the material at this web site.
As you will see, certain groups are presumed to be "disadvantaged," but this does not preclude individuals who are not in these groups from being eligible. Specifically mentioned are those who are "disabled." Following is an excerpt from the DOT web page:
"Disadvantaged" - You may be eligible if you are a member of a group of persons the Department considers as disadvantaged. The Department presumes certain groups are disadvantaged, including women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian-Pacific Americans, or other minorities found to be disadvantaged by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Persons who are not members of one of the above groups and own and control their business may also be eligible if they establish their "social" and "economic" disadvantage. The Department notes, for example, that people with disabilities have disproportionately low incomes and high rates of unemployment, and that many may be socially and economically disadvantaged. A determination of whether an individual with a disability meets DBE eligibility criteria is made on a case-by-case basis. More information on how social and economic disadvantage is determined can be found in Appendix E to 49 CFR Part 26.
As far as obtaining certification as a DBE, the DOT guidance from the web page is as follows:
Obtaining Certification as a DBE: Firms meeting the eligibility standards must contact the specific state or local transportation entity for which they wish to participate in contracts. In addition to requesting documentary evidence substantiating a firm's size, owner's PNW, independence, and an individual's ownership and control, recipients are required to perform an on-site visit to the firm's offices and job sites. Firms can obtain instructions on how to apply to become a DBE by contacting state departments of transportation or state DBE liaison and certification officers. To ease the burden of applying to multiple DOT recipients within a state, the Department requires a Unified Certification Program (UCP) to be developed so that applicants need only apply once for DBE certification that will be honored by all recipients in the state.
If you wish to talk with someone at the USDOT for further information, please call the DOT Office of Civil Rights at 202-366-4648. (Posted: March, 2012)
Q. What are DBE goals/regulations for the expanded program to help small business participation in transportation programs announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary on January 27, 2011?
A. A description of the new USDOT initiatives for small and disadvantaged businesses may be found at the web page of the USDOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization: http://osdbu.dot.gov/News/newsDetail.cfm?RecordID=676
The complete text of the new DOT rule may be found in the Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 19/Friday, January 28, 2011/pages 5083-5101, which DOT has posted online:
http://osdbu.dot.gov/documents/pdf/dbe/2011-1531.pdf (Posted: June, 2011)
