The Compliance Buzz

GCAP's blog dedicated to providing up to date content on all things compliance related including news, regulatory updates, and original GCAP content.

August 17, 2020

American DBE Magazine Summer 2020 Edition

The Summer 2020 edition of American DBE magazine includes a variety of articles related to the implementation and administration of the DBE program and includes best […]

July 28, 2020

USDOT Announces $11.2M in Grants for Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced $11.2 million in grants from the Fiscal Year 2019 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Supportive Services (DBE/SS) program […]

July 24, 2020

The Invest in America Act and its Impact on the USDOT DBE Program

Colette Holt, Colette Holt & Associates The new “Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America” Act (“Invest in America Act”), […]

June 16, 2020

Charge to Repeal Prop 209

Proposition 209 is a California ballot proposition (from 1996) that prohibits state governmental institutions from considering race, gender, or ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public […]

June 11, 2020

$494B INVEST in America Act

Led by Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the INVEST in America Act is a proposed $494-billion, five-year surface transportation […]

May 12, 2020

$4.35M DBE/Small Business Fraud Settlement

On April 30, 2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York entered into a civil settlement agreement with Northland Associates, Inc. (Northland); […]

May 8, 2020

FTA Guidance For Transit Agencies and TVMs Rolling Stock Procurements

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 […]

May 6, 2020

FTA Guidance on COVID-19

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 […]

April 25, 2020

BART Hosts Virtual Speed Networking

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 […]

April 20, 2020

Save Small Business Fund

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 […]

April 7, 2020

DBE/ACDBE Program Guidance During COVID-19

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 […]

April 1, 2020

FAA Guidance: ACDBE Joint Venture Agreements

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 […]

March 25, 2020

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

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 […]

January 28, 2020

Wisconsin Accountant Guilty of Conspiracy to Obtain Over $260 Million in Small Business Contracts

United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced that on January 24, 2020, a jury found Mark F. Spindler of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, guilty of conspiracy to […]

January 28, 2020

Feds charge SF Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru with fraud

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 […]

June 12, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Prompt Payment and Retainage

DOT has released Official FAQs on DBE Program Regulations. These questions and answers provide guidance and information for compliance with the provisions under 49 CFR part 26. […]

June 5, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Personal Net Worth

DOT has released Official FAQs on DBE Program Regulations. These questions and answers provide guidance and information for compliance with the provisions under 49 CFR part 26. […]

May 28, 2015

ACDBE Program Regulations

DOT has released Official FAQs on ACDBE Program Regulations. These questions and answers provide guidance and information for compliance with the provisions under 49 CFR part 23. […]

May 18, 2015

Caltrans Exhibit 9-B and Exhibit 9-C Forms Due June 1, 2015

In order to qualify to receive federal funds for their transportation projects, each local agency must provide to the Caltrans District Local Assistance Engineer (DLAE) a […]

April 21, 2015

Caltrans Public Meeting on FTA Goals

Caltrans is hosting public meetings to allow contractors to provide input on proposed DBE goal on FTA-funded projects for Fiscal Years 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2019, and 2018-2019. Caltrans’ […]

April 10, 2015

DBE Training: Setting and Meeting the Goal- Caltrans District 3

This half-day Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) training is being provided by Caltrans Office of Business & Economic Opportunity (OBEO) to help local agencies understand how to […]

March 19, 2015

USDOT Mentor-Protege Program Re-Launches

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is pleased to announce the expansion of our Mentor-Protégé Program. After successfully […]

February 25, 2015

DGS Small Business Program Meeting

The California Department of General Services’ (DGS) will host a hearing to give the public an opportunity to voice their opinion on the proposed changes to […]

January 16, 2015

Q&A- Western States Paving Company Case

The US DOT provides specific guidance regarding the Western States Paving Company case and its impact on federally-funded contracting in the 9th Circuit. Below is an […]

January 15, 2015

Caltrans FTA Disparity Study Released

Caltrans has released the FTA Disparity Study, which found that substantial disparity exists between the expected and actual participation of some disadvantaged groups on contracts funded by the […]