FTA Guidance For Transit Agencies and TVMs Rolling Stock Procurements

08 May

FTA issued guidance to help transit agencies and transit vehicle manufacturers understand and comply with the prohibitions on FTA-funded rolling stock procurements contained in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA frequently asked questions are based on inquiries from grantees and transit vehicle manufacturers. Questions include: Q1: Which manufacturers are affected by the restriction? Q2: When does the two-year phase-in …

FTA Guidance on COVID-19

06 May

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners to provide guidance to the public transportation industry in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Today, FTA posted 13 new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding COVID-19 on its website that cover Administrative Relief, Civil Rights, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) …

BART Hosts Virtual Speed Networking

25 Apr

BART has hosted virtual speed dating sessions where the agency interacts with up to 48 subcontractors to keep critical construction projects moving. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is working to increase opportunities available to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to continue essential construction projects and keeping small business employees on the job. “We are actively soliciting as …

Save Small Business Fund

20 Apr

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has set up a new Save Small Business Fund in partnership with Vistaprint and a coalition of supporting companies, foundations and donors. The fund is providing $5,000 in short-term relief to employers across the country. These one-time supplemental cash grants are for businesses that have between three and 20 employees and operate in an …

DBE/ACDBE Program Guidance During COVID-19

07 Apr

The U.S. Department of Transportation approved guidance addressing Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE (ACDBE) program requirements during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This guidance supplements the March 24, 2020 guidance and addresses the following 7 topics: Steps to ensure public participation in the goal setting process; DBE/ACDBE overall goal methodology due dates; “Commercially useful function” (CUF) reviews …

FAA Guidance: ACDBE Joint Venture Agreements

01 Apr

The Federal Aviation Administration Office of Civil Rights continues its effort to promote awareness of all the resources and information available to Airport Grant recipients and their representatives on matters pertaining to the DBE and ACDBE Programs (Programs). A Joint Venture isan association of an ACDBE firm and one or more other firms to carry out a single, for-profit business …

Why is it Hard for Minority Businesses to Win Government Contracts?

25 Mar

Understand How California’s Unique Business Landscape Impacts Minority-Owned Firms There are more minority-and-women-owned firms in California than in any other state. In fact, almost one in four of all minority businesses in the nation reside in California. Sure, we’re the most populous state in the county, but California’s total minority-owned businesses total over 228,000. That’s a lot of minority-owned businesses. …

Feds charge SF Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru with fraud

28 Jan

Federal authorities charged San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru and high-profile restaurateur Nick Bovis with fraud Tuesday following a public corruption probe. The schemes involved an envelope of cash, fraudulent city contracts, improper gifts from a Chinese developer and a $2,000 bottle of wine, according to authorities. To read more, click here.

DBE Files Discrimination Lawsuit Against City of Los Angeles

14 Jan

Complaint alleges city discriminated against Clean Up America, Inc. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ –Clean Up America, Inc and Deontay Potter filed a lawsuit Case No. 18STVC04176 against The City of Los Angeles for discrimination. CUA alleges that The City breached its contract and gave preferential treatment to a favored non-black owned hauler. The lawsuit alleges the City of Los Angeles facilitated Arrow Disposal Service in illegally dumping thousands …