How Will This Affect You?
Under the new Race Conscious DBE Program, local agencies must incorporate the new race conscious contract specifications into all federal-aid contracts. All contracts awarded after June 2, 2009 must support race-conscious DBE Requirements in order to be eligible for federal funding.

The Federal Highway Administration's approval requires the immediate implementation of the new DBE Program that includes a Race Conscious component (RC DBE Program). Effective immediately the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and local agencies receiving federal-aid funds must begin transitioning to the new RC DBE Program.

Local agencies may have until June 2, 2009 to transition to the newly approved RC DBE Program by adoption and executing the new RC DBE Program to proceed to contract award.

The new program requires that all federally funded projects awarded by 6/2/09 must be transitioned to RC DBE Program.

What do the new criteria include?
In 2007, GCAP Services assisted Caltrans as a subcontractor in conducting a disparity study to examine utilization of the six (6) groups identified as DBE's (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Disparity was found with regard to four (4) groups - African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific, and Women as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, 49 CFR Part 26. The remaining two (2) DBE groups, Hispanic males and Subcontinent Asian males, were found to be utilized appropriately.

For the latest information about the new DBE criteria, reference this useful blog at http://www.dbenews.com

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