Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
Program Compliance

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program ensures equal opportunity in transportation contracting opportunities, addresses the effects of discrimination in transportation contracting and promotes increased participation in federally funded contracts by small, socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, including minority- and women-owned enterprises. The DBE Program is a federal requirement under 49CFR part 26 for recipients of federal funds with $250,000 or more in contracting opportunities (excluding bus vehicle purchases). The CapMetro DBE program is recognized as one of the best-implemented programs across the industry.

In addition, the DBE program implementation requires extensive attention to contract compliance. Office of Diversity staff is involved in the procurement process from beginning to end, starting with setting DBE goals for federally funded procurements, evaluation of the submitted procurements for DBE compliance and close monitoring of the contracts once they have been awarded.

Links: Schedule C, Subcontractor participation, Intent to perform, TUCP directory,  DBE info,  DBE program Overview, Disadvantaged business policy.

Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program

CapMetro's Small Business Program applies to both federal and locally funded projects. For federally funded projects, the SBE program component follows federal guidelines under 49 CFR Part 26.39 as concurred by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). For locally funded projects, CapMetro developed a Small Business program to be inclusive of all small businesses and maximize small business participation.

CapMetro defines small businesses as any business whose annual gross income averaged over the past 3 years does not exceed the Small Business Administration's (SBA) size standards as set forth in 13 CFR, Part 121. A size standard is the largest that a firm can be and still qualify as a small business.

CapMetro's SBE program provides full and fair opportunities for equal participation by small businesses at CapMetro. The program is broad in order to create opportunities, require competitiveness and assist SBEs in overcoming potential barriers to participating in contracting opportunities. The SBE program promotes and encourages SBEs to participate in procurement opportunities and encourages bidders to include certified SBEs in subcontracting opportunities.

The Office of Diversity staff assigns small business goals to procurement opportunities as is necessary and proper to increase the level of small business participation across all CapMetro projects.