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.

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 […]
January 14, 2020

DBE Files Discrimination Lawsuit Against City of Los Angeles

Complaint alleges city discriminated against Clean Up America, Inc. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ –Clean Up America, Inc and Deontay Potter filed a lawsuit Case No. 18STVC04176 against The City […]
October 22, 2015

Caltrans Public Forums

The California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) 2015 Availability and Disparity Study (Study) needs YOUR input!   The Study is being conducted to determine whether there is […]
October 20, 2015

Third Circuit Decision Could Have Broad Implications For Sentencing In Federal Fraud Cases

Excepted from the National Law Review: Last week, the Third Circuit issued a decision that could have major ramifications for sentencing in federal fraud cases. United States v. Nagle dealt […]
October 16, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Western States Decision

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. […]
October 6, 2015

Make Davis-Bacon Work For You

Learn how to Make Davis-Bacon Work For You! LCPtracker, Inc. is proud to offer a prevailing wage seminar that surpasses anything that has been presented thus […]
October 2, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Mentor Protege Programs

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. […]
September 25, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Certification Appeals

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. […]
September 18, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Reporting requirements

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. […]
September 11, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Termination/Substitution of DBE

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. […]
September 8, 2015

DOT’s 10 Tips for DBE Contract Recipients

The DOT has published 10 Tips for DOT DBE Contract Recipients. The following is a summary of these tips. 1. Take advantage of the Sample Program […]
September 4, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Decertification

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. […]
August 28, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Contract Goals

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. […]
August 21, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Overall Goals

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. […]
August 18, 2015

DBE Shortfall Analysis

The following is adapted from the FTA Office of Civil Rights. DBE Shortfall = A recipient’s failure to meet its Triennial DBE Goal by the end […]
August 14, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Subrecipients

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. […]
August 8, 2015

History of the DOT DBE Program

The following is from the DOT website:   Overview The Department of Transportation (DOT) has had in effect for more than 20 years a policy of […]
August 7, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Waivers or Exemptions

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. […]
July 31, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Size standard

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. […]
July 30, 2015

LA Small Business Academy

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the Department of Public Works (DPW) of the City of Los Angeles, the Port of Los Angeles […]
July 25, 2015

Caltrans Local Assistance DBE Forms Revised

The following DBE forms for Local Assistance projects have been revised and posted on the Division of Local Assistance website. Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM) Exhibit […]
July 24, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Ownership

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. […]
July 24, 2015

High-speed rail hosts small business workshops in Fresno and Visalia

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is hosting free workshops for disadvantaged business enterprise certification and small business certification. Fresno 8/18/15 9am -1PM Downtown Fresno Business Hub […]
July 22, 2015

Caltrans to Begin “Suspending” DBE Firms

Per the Caltrans website: DBE regulation (49 CFR Part §26.88) grants certifying agencies, such as Caltrans, authority to suspend DBE firms. Events that can trigger suspension […]
July 17, 2015

Official FAQs on DBE Program Regulations

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. […]
July 15, 2015

Current Practices to Set and Monitor DBE Goals on Design-Build Projects and Other Alternative Project Delivery Methods

The Transportation Research Board’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 481: Current Practices to Set and Monitor DBE Goals on Design-Build Projects and Other Alternative […]
July 10, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Fostering Small Business Programs

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. […]
July 3, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Certification Standards

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. […]
July 2, 2015

Caltrans FHWA Triennial DBE Goal and Methodology 2016-2018

Caltrans has released its overall annual Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal and methodology for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and is seeking public comments. Caltrans’ 2016-2018 overall […]
June 27, 2015

American DBE Magazine Spring 2015

The Spring 2015 Issue of American DBE Magazine is available online free of charge. This issue’s cover story features Cynthia Jones Parks of Jones Worley, an […]
June 26, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Certification Procedures

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 19, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Good Faith Efforts Requirements

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 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 […]