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.

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 […]
December 15, 2022

History of the DOT DBE Program

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has had in effect for more than 20 years a policy of helping small businesses owned and controlled by socially and […]
October 11, 2022

US DOT Good Faith Efforts

USDOT recipients must implement the DBE Program in good faith as well as review the good faith efforts (GFEs) of prime contractors in their attainment of […]
September 29, 2022

US DOT Prompt Payment/Return of Retainage

Ensuring its recipients enforce the prompt payment and return of retainage requirements is a serious concern for USDOT. Prompt payment and early return of retainage are […]
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
September 20, 2022

Partnerships to Connect Small and Disadvantaged Businesses to Infrastructure Programs

September 20, 2022Contact: pressoffice@dot.gov Biden-Harris Administration Announces Groundbreaking Partnerships to Connect Small and Disadvantaged Businesses to Infrastructure Programs DOT Will Host Business Forum to Improve Access […]
September 16, 2022

US DOT DBE Project/Contract Goal Setting

USDOT’s Departmental Office of Civil Rights (DOCR) held a training session with FAA, FHWA, and FTA to discuss best practices in DBE project and contract goal […]
September 14, 2022

Governor Newsom Strengthens State’s Commitment to a California For All

New executive order directs state agencies to take critical actions on equity and discrimination and establishes state’s first Racial Equity Commission   Governor signs legislation focused on […]
September 1, 2022

DBE/ACDBE NPRM Comment Period Extended

Today the Department issued a 6-week extension for stakeholders to comment on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking NPRM issued on July 21, 2022. We encourage you to read the NPRM, paperwork […]
August 30, 2022

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Webinar hosted by FAA Small Business Program

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Small Business Program Office is hosting a third webinar about areas of opportunities related to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) on […]
August 11, 2022

Caltrans Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Oversight Monitoring Review

The Caltrans Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and Division of Local Assistance (DLA) are partnering to complete a virtual Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Oversight Monitoring review. […]
August 3, 2022

Finding the Ability to Accumulate Substantial Wealth- Proposed Changes to Federal DBE Program

Preliminary Note: The U.S. Department of Transportation recently released a long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modernize the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program regulations. This blog is […]
July 27, 2022

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Advances Equity And Economic Opportunity Through Federal Procurement And State And Local Infrastructure Contracting

Administration Announces Record Contract Spending on Small Disadvantaged Businesses and New Steps to Create Contracting Opportunities for Disadvantaged Businesses through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  The Federal […]
July 21, 2022

USDOT DBE/ACDBE NPRM

The Department is conducting outreach sessions to present proposed changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE program announced on July 21, 2022. […]
June 28, 2022

DBE & ACDBE Updated Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Transportation has updated the guidance for DBE & ACDBE Programs during COVID-19. The following areas have been updated: DBE Overall Goal Methodology […]
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 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 1, 2018

DBE Regulations – Official Questions and Answers

These questions and answers provide guidance and information for compliance with the provisions under 49 CFR part 26, pertaining to the implementation of the Department’s disadvantaged […]
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, […]
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  […]
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. […]
February 27, 2017

Discrimination Lawsuit Against Washington State DOT

Elton Mason, owner of Washington State Trucking, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against WSDOT, Seattle Tunnel Partners and other entities with the U.S. District Court in […]
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 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 […]
December 10, 2016

WASHTO Civil Rights Training Symposium

2017 WASHTO Civil Rights Training Symposium February 20 – 23, 2017 San Diego, CA The Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) invites you […]
October 18, 2016

US DOT DBE SUMMIT 10/26/16

  To register for the event, click here.
September 23, 2016

U.S. DOT Official DBE Program Q&A: Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations

Must Unified Certification Program (UCP) recipients that are certifying agencies accept for DBE certification firms owned by an Alaska Native Corporation’s (ANC) that have self-certified as […]
August 15, 2016

CEO Of Steel Contractor On World Trade Center Site Convicted At Trial Of Fraud In Connection With Program Designed To Encourage Participation Of Minority And Women-Owned Businesses

CEO Of Steel Contractor On World Trade Center Site Convicted At Trial Of Fraud In Connection With Program Designed To Encourage Participation Of Minority And Women-Owned […]
April 30, 2016

DBE Program Regulations: Race-Neutral Measures

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. […]
April 15, 2016

U.S. DOT Official DBE Program Q&A: Prompt Payment and Retainage

What must recipients do to ensure compliance with the requirement that subcontractors (which includes subconsultants) must be promptly paid for work performed on a U.S. Department […]
March 31, 2016

FTA Recipient Reporting Requirements

Recipient Reporting Requirements – Tasks Launch for FFR, MPR, and DBE Reports   This is a friendly reminder that on Friday, April 1 TrAMS will launch […]
February 26, 2016

FTA’s 2016 Certifications and Assurances

FTA’s 2016 Certifications and Assurances have been loaded into TrAMS, so your recipient organization may now review and PIN its FY 2016 Certifications and Assurances (C&As) […]
February 17, 2016

FTA TrAMS Training Sessions

Full Slate of TrAMS Training Sessions Now Open Following the launch of the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS) to award and manage federal funding, FTA is […]
February 11, 2016

U.S. DOT Official DBE Program Q&A: Reporting Requirements

GUIDANCE ON COMPLETING THE ONGOING PAYMENTS PORTION OF THE UNIFORM REPORT OF DBE COMMITMENTS/AWARDS AND PAYMENTS Section C of the Uniform Report is designed to capture information […]
February 9, 2016

DBE Program Regulations: Confidentiality of Information

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. […]
November 20, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Counting Regular Dealers

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. […]
November 13, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Counting Joint Checks

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. […]
November 6, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Counting DBE Participation

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. […]
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 […]
October 25, 2015

American DBE Magazine- Fall 2015

The latest edition of American DBE Magazine has been released. View the magazine online here.
October 23, 2015

DBE Program Regulations: Recovery Act

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 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 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. […]