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The LA Times published an article by Paul Pringle and Adam Elmahrek, entitled “Minority contractors claiming to be ‘Native American’ to undergo nationwide review.” A portion of the article is listed below. Please see the LA Times for the full article. Federal, state and local authorities are intensifying scrutiny of minority contracting programs across the country in the wake of …
Ralph Taylor, a Washington State business owner, is challenging the policies that determine eligibility for disadvantaged and minority status in state and federal incentive programs. After a DNA test showed that Taylor was 90 percent Caucasian, six percent American Indian and four percent sub-Saharan African decent, he submitted the results to Washington’s Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises. …
A federal jury has found Doug Evans, owner of Evans Landscaping, and his vice president, Jim Bailey, guilty on all counts in a wire fraud case. Evans and Bailey were charged with committing wire fraud and misprision of a felony in setting up a dummy company, Ergon, to win minority contracts worth millions of dollars from the City of Cincinnati. …
Nicholas Rivecca Sr., owner of Sonag Ready Mix, LLC, has agreed to pay $629,732 to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by defrauding the United States Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. The government alleges that Rivecca conspired to obtain a fraudulent DBE certification under the company, Nuvo Construction Company. With this certification, Rivecca obtained …
Vertech International (Vertech) and its owner, Rajat Verma, were debarred on August 30, 2018 by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) after taking part in a $2 million scheme to defraud DOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. This scheme caused Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to falsely award around $1.97 million in DBE credit. Read the full story here.
Ralph Taylor, the owner of Orion Insurance Group, now considers himself to be multiracial based on the results of an at-home DNA test. This test estimated that Taylor was 90 percent Caucasian, six percent indigenous American and four percent sub-Saharan African. With these results, Taylor applied for state certification with the Washington Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE). …
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of General Counsel has approved new guidance documents related to Recipient Responsibilities for Oversight and Monitoring of DBE Participation. This document contains questions and answers on recipients’ responsibilities for monitoring work performed by DBEs. To view this document, click here.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of General Counsel has approved new guidance documents related to Procedures for Submitting Good Faith Efforts Information on Design-Bid-Build Contracts. This helps clarify how recipients must ensure that all contract bidders/offers submit DBE subcontractor information on design-bid-build contracts. To view this document, click here.
These questions and answers provide guidance and information for compliance with the provisions under 49 CFR part 26, pertaining to the implementation of the Department’s disadvantaged business enterprise program. The General Counsel of the Department of Transportation has reviewed these questions and answers and approved them as consistent with the language and intent of 49 CFR Part 26. These questions …
Donald R. Taylor, the owner of Century Steel Company, plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States after conspiring with the owner of W.M.C.C. Inc. to obtain federally funded subcontracts intended for minority-owned small businesses, which Century Steel was not. These actions resulted in payments of $1,065,000 from nine PENDOT subcontracts. Read the full story here.