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 […]
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, 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
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 […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
November 26, 2020

Updated DBE & ACDBE Program Guidance During COVID-19

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 […]
October 2, 2019

Attention: Contracting Community Engagement Meetings

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 […]
January 7, 2019

Caltrans Increases Overall DBE Goal

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 […]
October 2, 2018

Feds Investigate Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

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 […]
September 4, 2018

DBE Matters – Goal Setting Website

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. […]
August 31, 2018

Update in DBE Goal Methodology

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 […]
August 25, 2018

Guidance on Recipient Responsibilities for Oversight and Monitoring of DBE Participation

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 […]
June 23, 2018

CALTRANS Looking for 2016 Disparity Study Comments

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 […]
June 22, 2018

Guidance on Procedures for Submitting Good Faith Efforts Information on Design-Bid-Build Contracts

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. […]
May 14, 2018

Caltrans Revised 2016 Federal Highway Administration Disparity Report Released

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 […]
February 17, 2018

Participate in FHWA Local Agency Training Needs Survey

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 […]
October 20, 2017

Port of Long Beach and Long Beach Transit Interested in Diversity Programs and Goals

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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
September 20, 2016

Caltrans DBE Contract Goal Setting

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 […]
November 1, 2015

Caltrans Continues Review of DBE Contract Goal-Setting & GFE

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 […]
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 […]
August 28, 2015

Caltrans FFY2016-2018 DBE Goal Methodology Approved by FHWA

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as reviewed and approved the DBE Goal Methodology submitted by Caltrans for FFY 2016-2018.  Caltrans submitted an overall goal of 12.5%, […]
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 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 […]
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 […]