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.

October 11, 2023

Success Story: How the DBE/ACDBE Program Empowers Disadvantaged Entrepreneurs

Forbes recently released an article about Randy Hazelton, a young entrepreneur and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) owner who grew his business from a streetside restaurant in Atlanta to a $50 million enterprise with assistance from the USDOT's ACDBE program.
September 20, 2023

DBE Fraud Cases: A Timely Reminder to Prioritize Commercially Useful Function Reviews

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General released an investigative report titled "FHWA Suspends Massachusetts-Based DBE Contractor" which details the suspension of a DBE contractor due to fraudulent activities involving both the Prime Contractor and the certified DBE subcontractor.
September 11, 2023

A Recipe for Change: Successful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs

When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, there is not a ‘one size fits all’ strategy and integration plan—each organization should have their own to address their uniquely identified needs. What works for one organization may or may not work for other. Therefore, assessing, monitoring, and adjusting the strategy is critical to the success of DEI programs.
June 23, 2023

How Federal Agencies Can Advance Equity through Executive Order 14091

Executive Order 14091 – “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” – was signed by President Joe Biden on February […]
June 9, 2023

Upcoming DBE/ACDBE Certification Workshops in June

The California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) member agencies and the Business Outreach Committee (BOC) are hosting a two-part DBE/ACDBE Certification workshop on June 22, 2023 at […]
June 9, 2023

USDOT Equity Action Plan Update – Request for Information

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comment to inform their annual update to the DOT Equity Action Plan which aims to expand access and […]
May 17, 2023

Summary of Caltrans LAPM Changes

The Caltrans Division of Local Assistance recently released two (2) Office Bulletins related to the DBE Program that affect their federal-aid funded projects.  If you are […]
April 21, 2023

DBEs in Design Build & the FHWA Every Day Counts 2023 Virtual Summit

In February 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hosted the Every Day Counts Virtual Summit. If you missed the summit, you can access the recordings and […]
April 20, 2023

Two Companies Agree to Pay $1.2 Million to Resolve DBE Fraud Allegations

On April 5, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts entered into a civil settlement with Walsh Construction Company and Melo’s Rodbusters, Inc. […]
March 15, 2023

Sherwin-Williams Company To Pay $1 Million To Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Violations Arising From Pennsylvania Bridge Painting Project

On March 1, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania entered into a civil settlement agreement with The Sherwin-Williams Company. Sherwin-Williams agreed […]
March 2, 2023

Updated DBE Size Standards

Effective March 1, 2023 the business size limit for applicant and certified DBEs seeking to participate in FHWA and FTA-assisted contracts is adjusted for inflation from $28.48 million to $30.40 million. […]
February 14, 2023

U.S. DOT Transportation Disadvantaged Census Tracts (Historically Disadvantaged Communities) Tool Update Webinar

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will be hosting a webinar on the agency’s proposed updates and rebranding of the Transportation Disadvantaged Census Tracts (Historically Disadvantaged Communities) […]
February 4, 2023

Request for Feedback on FAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funded Large Scale Construction and the FAA Mentor Protégé Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced a request for feedback from industry on the potential utilization of the FAA’s Mentor Protégé Program and to invite […]
January 18, 2023

USDOT Announces Two New Actions to Advance Economic Opportunity for Disadvantaged Workers and Businesses through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced new resources from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will create economic opportunities and open […]
January 5, 2023

Transit Vehicle Manufacturers (TVMs)

If you are an FTA recipient, you must require in your DBE program that each transit vehicle manufacturer, as a condition of being authorized to bid […]
September 20, 2023

DBE Fraud Cases: A Timely Reminder to Prioritize Commercially Useful Function Reviews

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General released an investigative report titled "FHWA Suspends Massachusetts-Based DBE Contractor" which details the suspension of a DBE contractor due to fraudulent activities involving both the Prime Contractor and the certified DBE subcontractor.
May 17, 2023

Summary of Caltrans LAPM Changes

The Caltrans Division of Local Assistance recently released two (2) Office Bulletins related to the DBE Program that affect their federal-aid funded projects.  If you are […]
April 20, 2023

Two Companies Agree to Pay $1.2 Million to Resolve DBE Fraud Allegations

On April 5, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts entered into a civil settlement with Walsh Construction Company and Melo’s Rodbusters, Inc. […]
March 15, 2023

Sherwin-Williams Company To Pay $1 Million To Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Violations Arising From Pennsylvania Bridge Painting Project

On March 1, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania entered into a civil settlement agreement with The Sherwin-Williams Company. Sherwin-Williams agreed […]
March 2, 2023

Updated DBE Size Standards

Effective March 1, 2023 the business size limit for applicant and certified DBEs seeking to participate in FHWA and FTA-assisted contracts is adjusted for inflation from $28.48 million to $30.40 million. […]
October 11, 2022

US DOT Good Faith Efforts

USDOT recipients must implement the DBE Program in good faith as well as review the good faith efforts (GFEs) of prime contractors in their attainment of […]
September 29, 2022

US DOT Prompt Payment/Return of Retainage

Ensuring its recipients enforce the prompt payment and return of retainage requirements is a serious concern for USDOT. Prompt payment and early return of retainage are […]
September 20, 2022

US DOT Training- DBE Program Overview

This video gives overview of the DBE Program. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials/catmod.cfm?id=73
September 16, 2022

US DOT DBE Project/Contract Goal Setting

USDOT’s Departmental Office of Civil Rights (DOCR) held a training session with FAA, FHWA, and FTA to discuss best practices in DBE project and contract goal […]
September 1, 2022

DBE/ACDBE NPRM Comment Period Extended

Today the Department issued a 6-week extension for stakeholders to comment on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking NPRM issued on July 21, 2022. We encourage you to read the NPRM, paperwork […]
June 28, 2022

DBE & ACDBE Updated Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Transportation has updated the guidance for DBE & ACDBE Programs during COVID-19. The following areas have been updated: DBE Overall Goal Methodology […]
April 28, 2022

California Company Agrees To Pay $650,000 as Part of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement for DBE Violations

On April 8, 2022, G&C Equipment Corporation (G&C), a California-based construction materials supplier, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for […]
March 30, 2022

Whistleblower Contractor Exposes Competitor’s Alleged DBE Fraud

Two St. Louis-area contractors settled a disadvantaged business enterprise fraud case with federal authorities after a competitor exposed the alleged fraud using a law that dates […]
March 8, 2022

Increased DBE/ACDBE Size Standards

The Department of Transportation issued a final rule on December 14, 2020, applicable to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) program regarding an annual inflationary adjustment to […]
March 1, 2022

FFY 2023-2024 Triennial Goals- START NOW!

Direct recipients of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding are required to establish triennial DBE goals for a three-year period. If your triennial goal is set to […]
February 12, 2022

How the MTA meets its diverse contracting goals in the era of COVID-19

Michael Garner, the MTA’s chief diversity officer, discusses how the agency’s minority- and women-owned business program has met the challenges of the pandemic in an interview […]
February 11, 2022

NAICS Code Updates for 2022

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and […]
February 8, 2022

U.S. Settles Dispute Over DBE Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Illinois issued the following announcement on Jan. 27. FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – United Ironworkers (“United”), D&K Welding Services (“D&K”), Kim […]
January 25, 2022

New DBE Trucking Contract Process Embraces Equity and Inclusion

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) are moving forward to develop a new change in construction contract framework […]
January 10, 2022

FAA Goal-Setting Schedule

The Federal Aviation Administration has released a revised schedule for DBE and ACDBE Reporting Requirements for Airport Grant Recipients. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2021-12/FAAGoalsDueChart%20New_Final.pdf
December 1, 2021

DBE Program Overview

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) DBE Program seeks to ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts in the Department’s highway, transit, and […]
November 24, 2021

Congressional subcommittee looks into why $66B of infrastructure funds won’t target minority contractors

The Federal Railroad Administration, unlike DOT, doesn’t have an established program to award contracts to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. Part of the promise of the $1.2 trillion […]
November 15, 2021

Minority business owners say they face discrimination in rail industry

Minority- and women-owned businesses face discrimination and other hardships while trying to obtain federal passenger rail contracts, the owners of several such companies told a House […]
November 3, 2021

DBE Fraud After Exceeding PNW

AUSTIN – U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas announced today that Muniz Concrete and Contracting, Inc. (“Muniz Concrete”) and its owner, […]
October 21, 2021

USDOT to Host Virtual Public Meetings on the Justice40 Initiative

On November 9 and November 16, at 12:00pm ET, the U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT) will host virtual public meetings related to the Justice40 Initiative. During […]
October 8, 2021

FTA DBE Listening Session: How to Improve the DBE Program

FTA will host a listening session at 2 p.m. ET Thursday, October 14 to gather information from Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) stakeholders about how to improve […]
October 7, 2021

Caltrans 22.2% DBE Goal for FFY 2022-2024 (FHWA)

Based on a disparity study recently conducted, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) submitted the overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Goal and Methodology Proposal to the […]
August 2, 2021

Alternative Delivery Methods and DBE Goals

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 […]
July 29, 2021

New York Painting Contractor Settles DBE Fraud Allegations

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. […]
June 30, 2021

SANDAG Bench Program Featured in American DBE Magazine

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 […]
June 14, 2021

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

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 […]
May 14, 2021

Navigating DBE & LC Interviews During a Pandemic

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 […]
April 9, 2021

FAA Launches New Prompt Payment Complaint Reporting Module

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 […]
February 11, 2021

New Online Dashboard Shows Diversity of High-Speed Rail Small Businesses Program

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has launched a new online dashboard that tracks Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), which include women- and minority-owned small businesses participating […]
February 3, 2021

New Caltrans Exhibit 9-F Due Monthly

The Caltrans Division of Local Assistance released the 2021 Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM) on January 4, 2021. In addition to numerous minor revisions, the LAPM […]
January 27, 2021

DBE CUF Consequences

Connecticut Contractor Agrees To Pay $3.2 Million To Resolve Criminal and Civil Investigation On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut […]