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.

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 […]

November 6, 2019

Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Prison for DBE Fraud Scheme

On November 6, 2019, Stamatios “Tom” Kousisis was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to 70 months’ imprisonment, 36 months’ supervised release, and $18,600 in […]

October 31, 2019

New York Painting Contractor Settles DBE Fraud Allegations

On October 31, 2019, Ahern Paining Contractors, Inc. (Ahern), of Woodside, New York, entered into a civil settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District […]

October 16, 2019

Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Joint Venture Guidance

As guidance, this document sets forth the interpretations of the Department of Transportation of its existing legal authorities and the Department’s recommendations for carrying out the […]

October 9, 2019

File a Complaint with FTA

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released instructions for how to file a complaint. FTA processes complaints under the following programs: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): […]

October 2, 2019

Attention: Contracting Community Engagement Meetings

September 19, 2019

All ‘Native American’ DBE Certifications Under Review by DOT

The LA Times published an article by Paul Pringle and Adam Elmahrek, entitled “Minority contractors claiming to be ‘Native American’ to undergo nationwide review.” A portion […]

September 15, 2019

SB1 Increasing Opportunities for Small Business

SB1 was signed in 2017 and invests $54 billion over the next 10 years to improve and maintain California’s transportation infrastructure. This is a good news […]

September 6, 2019

SBA Office of Advocacy Submits Comments on Size Standards

On Aug. 22, Advocacy submitted the Small Business Administration’s proposed rule, Small Business Size Standards: Calculation of Annual Average Receipts. In the letter, Advocacy urges the […]

September 5, 2019

Independent Contractors in Question After California Employment Bill Passes

AB-5 Worker Status: Employees and Independent Contractors This bill is an act to amend the Labor Code and Unemployment Insurance Code following the decision in Dynamex […]

September 3, 2019

FHWA Debars New Jersey-based Contractor

Sanzo Ltd. and its owner, Coral Sanzo, were debarred by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on August 23, 2019. This debarment prohibits Sanzo from participating in […]

August 1, 2019

City of Atlanta in Violation of Federal Obligation for Airport Grants

The Federal Aviation Administration says the city of Atlanta is in violation of its federal obligations for airport grants because of its actions in a dispute […]

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 […]