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.
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November 11, 2025
By now you may have heard that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has enacted a major change to its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program that affects approximately 41,000 minority- and women-owned businesses in the transportation industry. On October 3, 2025, an Interim Final Rule (IFR) took effect, eliminating the long-standing practice of presuming certain groups to be socially disadvantaged and instead requiring every DBE to prove social and economic disadvantage on an individual basis. The IFR also triggers a nationwide “reevaluation” of all currently certified DBE firms, effectively making them reapply under stricter criteria.
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October 8, 2025
On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) removing the race- and sex-based rebuttable presumptions for social disadvantage status in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. In effect, this eliminates race- and sex-based eligibility from the DBE Program. The IFR has a limited public comment period of 30 days required by the Rulemaking process and went into effect on October 3, 2025 when it was published in the federal register.
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May 1, 2024
On April 9, 2024 the USDOT announced various changes and much needed modernization to the DBE Program. GCAP prepared a table summarizing key changes.
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March 25, 2024
This article highlights one of Jonathan Stutz's key friendships, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in building relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. It illustrates how connecting with individuals different from oneself can lead to personal growth, expanded perspectives, and a deeper understanding of others.
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October 11, 2023
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.
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September 20, 2023
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.
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September 11, 2023
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.
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June 23, 2023
Executive Order 14091 – “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” – was signed by President Joe Biden on February […]
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June 9, 2023
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 […]
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June 9, 2023
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 […]
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May 17, 2023
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 […]
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April 21, 2023
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 […]
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April 20, 2023
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. […]
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March 15, 2023
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 […]
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March 2, 2023
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. […]
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November 11, 2025
By now you may have heard that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has enacted a major change to its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program that affects approximately 41,000 minority- and women-owned businesses in the transportation industry. On October 3, 2025, an Interim Final Rule (IFR) took effect, eliminating the long-standing practice of presuming certain groups to be socially disadvantaged and instead requiring every DBE to prove social and economic disadvantage on an individual basis. The IFR also triggers a nationwide “reevaluation” of all currently certified DBE firms, effectively making them reapply under stricter criteria.
Do you like it?
October 8, 2025
On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) removing the race- and sex-based rebuttable presumptions for social disadvantage status in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. In effect, this eliminates race- and sex-based eligibility from the DBE Program. The IFR has a limited public comment period of 30 days required by the Rulemaking process and went into effect on October 3, 2025 when it was published in the federal register.
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October 11, 2023
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.
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September 20, 2022
This video gives overview of the DBE Program. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials/catmod.cfm?id=73
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March 1, 2022
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 […]
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February 12, 2022
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 […]
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February 11, 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 […]
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January 25, 2022
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 […]
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January 10, 2022
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
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October 7, 2021
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 […]
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August 2, 2021
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 […]
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February 11, 2021
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 […]
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November 26, 2020
The US Department of Transportation released guidance documents addressing DBE and ACDBE program requirements during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on March 24, 2020 and April […]
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September 15, 2019
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 […]
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January 7, 2019
On January 3, 2019, Caltrans announced that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has significantly increased the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Annual Overall Participation Goal to 17.6 […]
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October 2, 2018
The Federal Transit Authority is investigating the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) after they received a complaint that the authority may have violated rules involving […]
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September 4, 2018
As part of the DBE Think Tank, a contract goal setting website has been developed to provide people with a start point for contract goal development. […]
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August 31, 2018
Local agencies must use the updated Exhibit 9-D template to calculate Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals for all federal contracts (consultant and construction) that will be […]
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August 25, 2018
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of General Counsel has approved new guidance documents related to Recipient Responsibilities for Oversight and Monitoring of DBE Participation. This […]
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June 23, 2018
Caltrans is looking for your comments on their 2016 Disparity Study to discuss options for setting Disadvantaged Enterprise goals. The study examines whether there are disparities between […]
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June 22, 2018
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of General Counsel has approved new guidance documents related to Procedures for Submitting Good Faith Efforts Information on Design-Bid-Build Contracts. […]
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May 14, 2018
Caltrans has just released their revised 2016 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Disparity Study report and proposed overall FHWA Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal and methodology for federal […]
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February 17, 2018
Participate in the The Federal Highway Administration’s Local Agency Training and Technical Assistance Needs Assessment. As FHWA revisits their strategic plan for their Local Technical Assistance […]
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October 20, 2017
The Port of Long Beach and Long Beach Transit recently hosted a Prime Time Business Networking event, that gave small businesses insight to certification and internal […]
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September 15, 2017
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 […]
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June 26, 2017
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 […]
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April 19, 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 […]
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February 8, 2017
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 […]
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January 26, 2017
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, […]
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September 20, 2016
One aspect of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program that we receive inquiries about is contract goal setting. To help understand the task better, we’ve put […]
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November 1, 2015
As many of you are aware, Office Bulletin 14-06: Review of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Contract Goals and Good Faith Efforts Pilot Study was originally […]
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September 8, 2015
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 […]
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July 15, 2015
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 […]
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July 2, 2015
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 […]
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April 21, 2015
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’ […]
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