Alternative Delivery Methods and DBE Goals

02 Aug

The Transportation Research Record published a paper, entitled “Public–Private Partnership and Social Equity: An Empirical Study of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.” The paper examined the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program to assess whether delivery methods play a role in the participation of minority- and women-owned firms in federally assisted transportation contracts. A sample of 134 contracts from the US …

New York Painting Contractor Settles DBE Fraud Allegations

29 Jul

On July 12, 2021, Spectrum Painting Corp. (Spectrum), entered into a civil settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Spectrum agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations of fraud connected to contracted painting work on the Federal Highway Administration–funded Brooklyn Bridge Rehabilitation Project and the Federal Transit Administration–funded Queens Plaza subway station painting …

Members of Congress urge Transportation Department to support FRA business program

27 Jul

Transportation Today released an article on the support of a DBE program within the Federal Railroad Administration. “A total of 58 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including the Congressional Black Caucus, recently sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging the agency to support a disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program within the Federal Railroad Administration.” Read …

SANDAG Bench Program Featured in American DBE Magazine

30 Jun

American DBE Magazine recently featured the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Equity Plan and Bench program in an article highlighting how they have been able to engage more DBEs in public work: For many Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms, the most challenging part of gaining traction in the transportation industry is securing their first contract. The reason is the proverbial …

$692K DBE Fraud Settlement The Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement Project

14 Jun

Defendants Repeatedly Failed to Disclose That a Non-DBE Subcontractor Performed Work Exclusively Attributed to Their DBE The United States filed and settled a civil fraud lawsuit against NAUGHTON ENERGY and two of its owners, its president, MARIETTE NAUGHTON, and her husband, JOSEPH NAUGHTON.  NAUGHTON ENERGY, a Pennsylvania-based fuel distributor, supplied diesel fuel to vehicles and equipment used in connection with …

U.S. DOT Requesting Comments on Programs and Policies that Perpetuate Systemic Barriers

28 May

On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed the Executive Order, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” (Equity E.O.). Through the implementation of this Administration priority, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) will assess whether, and to what extent, its programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color …

U.S. DOT Announces Expanded Local Hire and Workforce Development Pilot Programs

24 May

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg today announced expanded construction hiring and workforce development pilot programs to be managed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). “As we invest in world-class infrastructure for Americans, we want to make sure that our investments create jobs for people in the communities where the projects …

Navigating DBE & LC Interviews During a Pandemic

14 May

Jaime Buda (Business Development Manager) sits down with Edward Salcedo (President) and Sylvia Linn (Vice President) to discuss the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on conducting Commercially Useful Function (CUF) and Labor Compliance onsite interviews. To view the full article, click on the file below:

FRA Disparity Study

20 Apr

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is conducting a first of its kind nationwide small, minority-owned and woman-owned business disparity study, seeking to determine whether the playing field is level for firms aspiring to win subcontracts from grantees receiving Federal funds administered by the agency. The FRA commissioned a Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business to report to Congress …

FAA Launches New Prompt Payment Complaint Reporting Module

09 Apr

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 instituted a requirement for recipients to report covered prompt payment complaints to the FAA Office of Civil Rights. The FAA had temporarily set up a survey tool as a means for recipients to report complaints, but have now launched a new prompt payment complaint reporting module directly in the FAA Civil Rights Connect System. …