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.

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. […]
July 27, 2021

Members of Congress urge Transportation Department to support FRA business program

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 […]
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 28, 2021

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

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 […]
May 24, 2021

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

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 […]
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 20, 2021

FRA Disparity Study

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 […]
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 […]
October 4, 2017

The Partners Program – DBE/WBE/SBE Firms

Delivering complex airport programs requires diversity, innovative thinking, and close collaboration among large and small firms. HNTB has created the Partners Program, a national effort to […]
September 15, 2017

Mile Marker: A Caltrans Performance Report

Check out the latest issue of the Mile Marker:  A Caltrans Performance Report. Find out how Caltrans is making improvements to our state highway system and […]
August 30, 2017

Company Connected with Federal Indictment Awarded $3.2 Million in Contracts

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has awarded Butler Enterprise Group, LLC with two $1.6 million public outreach contracts. This company is currently connected to a […]
August 28, 2017

Patience Pays Off With DBE Applications

A Pennsylvania couple has been charged with bribery and conspiracy after trying to expedite their Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Application at the Southern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority […]
August 2, 2017

Attend a 2 Hour A&E Consultant Contracts Compliance Training Course!

Caltrans Division of Local Assistance is presenting a series of training classes on Architectural & Engineering (A&E) Consultant Contract Compliance.  Learn how to avoid the risk […]
July 27, 2017

Caltrans A&E Contract Training Survey

A&E Contract Training is one of the many tools the Division of Local Assistance provides to local agencies. The goal of this survey is to receive feedback that […]
July 27, 2017

FHWA Approval of A&E Consultants in a Management Support Role

All Local Public Agencies that solicit to hire A&E consultant(s) in a management support role must obtain FHWA approval prior to contract execution. This authority is […]
July 26, 2017

Senate Bill 1 Workshop Schedule

As part of the California Transportation Commissions (CTC) Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Implementation Plan, a series of workshops is being offered to State and Federal Agencies, Tribal Governments, […]
July 24, 2017

FTA Updates its Award Management Requirements Circular (5010.1E)

FTA has updated its Award Management Requirements Circular (FTA Circular 5010.1E) to provide better understanding and clarity regarding: FTA’s pre-award authority; Extensions to the award end date […]
July 14, 2017

Annual Equal Employment Opportunity Report: FORM FHWA-1391

Construction contractors who perform work on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) assisted contracts are required to report annually on the composition of their workforce by race, gender, […]
July 12, 2017

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $226.5 Million Funding Opportunity to Improve Transit Bus Service

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the opportunity to apply for approximately $226.5 million in competitive grant funding for transit bus projects […]
June 26, 2017

Attend a Webinar on Required DBE Goals for FTA Subrecipients

Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 26 (49 CFR 26) establishes requirements for the use of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) on all federally-funded […]
June 13, 2017

Caltrans Workshop: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification

Mon, June 26, 2017 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM PDT California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 7 Los Angeles 100 South Main Street Los Angeles, CA […]
May 26, 2017

FHWA Approval of Architectural and Engineering (A&E) Consultants in a Management Support Role

FHWA – California Division would like to ‘highlight’ the approval action process in circumstances where a local public agency (LPA) elects to contract with an Architectural  […]
May 19, 2017

2017 Small Business Summit

June 1, 2017 The Small Business Summit Group, Inc. in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office and the Los Angeles World […]
May 6, 2017

USDOT Bonding Education Program

What is a Surety Bond? A surety bond is legally binding contract between a Principal, Obligee, and a Guarantor. In the transportation construction industry the Principal […]
May 3, 2017

USDOT Small Business Certification Programs

If your small business is not certified, then you should consider the benefits of having your business become certified. Having your small business certified is similar […]
April 26, 2017

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program is a scholarship-based program (paid for by Goldman Sachs) for qualified small business owners who are interested in growing […]
April 19, 2017

NAICS code update for 2017

NAICS code update for 2017 The United States Census Bureau recently published its 2017 update to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). This process is […]
April 6, 2017

Caltrans Local Assistance Consultant Procurement Manual

Caltrans Division of Local Assistance has released a Local Assistance Consultant Procurement Manual. This manual is available for local agencies to adopt as their own procurement procedures. […]
March 23, 2017

Arizona Department of Transportation Program Helps Minority Businesses Grow

View video Line by line, it’s the intricate detail that Falcon Contracting considers a hallmark of its work. Even those who have never heard of the […]
March 22, 2017

MBDA Releases Report on Contracting Barriers Impacting Minority Firms

Minority Business Development Agency Releases Report on Contracting Barriers Impacting Minority Firms The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency today released a new report, […]
February 12, 2017

DGS Commercially Useful Function for SB & DVBE

Performing a Commercially Useful Function is a critical requirement of doing business with the state. As such, the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business […]
February 11, 2017

DGS Adoption of Small Business Regulations Revisions

The Department of General Services, Procurement Division, Office of Small Business & Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services (OSDS) has revised California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title […]
February 11, 2017

Caltrans: What if you only receive 1 A&E proposal?

The Caltrans Division of Local Assistance is excited to announce a new informational tool for local agencies – the Selected Shorts Video Series.  These videos will […]
February 8, 2017

USDOT Approves Separate Goals for Women and African American Businesses

On Jan. 19, 2017, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx approved a waiver of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations to allow the San Francisco Municipal […]
January 26, 2017

Caltrans LAPM 2017 Edition

Caltrans Division of Local Assistance is pleased to present the 2017 edition of the Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM). This 2017 edition incorporates all updates, changes, […]
January 18, 2017

Caltrans Training through LTAP

The California Department of Transportation Division of Local Assistance has partnered with Sacramento State’s College of Continuing Education (CCE) to provide trainings and technical assistance as […]
January 18, 2017

MBDA Releases Report on Contracting Barriers Impacting Minority Firms

Minority Business Development Agency Releases Report on Contracting Barriers Impacting Minority Firms PR Newswire January 18, 2017 WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S. Department […]
January 15, 2017

DGS FY 2015 – 16 Consolidated Annual Report

The Department of General Services (DGS) is pleased to announce the release of the 2015 –16 Consolidated Annual Report (CAR).  Public Contract Code (PCC) §  10111 […]
January 13, 2017

The Transit Award Management System (TrAMS): FTA’s Next Generation of TEAM

Welcome to the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS), FTA’s platform to award and manage federal grants. TrAMS was created to provide greater efficiency and improved transparency […]
January 3, 2017

USDOT DBE Program Guidance

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued guidance in its Questions and Answers section on the relationship and obligations between prime contractors and subcontractors and recipients’ duties to monitor […]
January 3, 2017

SBA Targets Access to Capital

SBA Works to Increase Capital Access for Underserved Markets The Small Business Administration (SBA) has been the leading source of capital for American small businesses to start and […]
January 2, 2017

Free DBE Certification Workshop

Caltrans is providing a FREE DBE certification workshop on January 12, 2017. 100 South Main Street, Los Angeles Increase your Business opportunities to perform work with […]
January 2, 2017

Safe Harbor Cost Rate Test and Evaluation

Beginning in July 1, 2013, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiated a Safe Harbor Cost Rate Test and Evaluation program for Architectural and Engineering (A&E) consulting […]
December 22, 2016

Caltrans DBE Supportive Services Survey

Tell us how we’re doing! Your feedback is critical in providing an effective DBE Supportive Services program. For more information about the program, please visit the […]