DBE/SBE Program

In accordance with requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation as set forth in 49 C.F.R. Part 26, as amended, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver, Colorado, hereby notifies the public that it is recommending the following Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal which represents the percentage of work to be accomplished by DBE prime contractors, subcontractors, consultants, vendors and material suppliers for professional services, construction and procurement contracts on federal-aid transit projects and grants during the Federal Fiscal Years of 2023-2025, beginning October 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2025. The overall proposed DBE goal for FFY 2023-2025 is 14.5%. The DBE Goal Methodology and all information pertaining to this goal and a description of how it was selected is available for inspection from 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. (Mountain Time) at the Regional Transportation District Executive Offices located at 1660 Blake Street, Denver, Colorado 80202 for 30 calendar days following the publication of this notice. Digital version will be available through a TEAMS virtual meeting upon request made through the RTD’s Small Business Office email address: [email protected]. Written comments of this goal will be accepted for 45 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice. The comments are for informational purposes only and may be sent to the RTD Civil Rights Division, same address, AND to the Regional Civil Rights Officer, Federal Transit Administration, Regions VII and VIII, Byron Rogers Federal Building – 1961 Stout Street, Suite 13-301, Denver, Colorado 80202.

The DBE/SBE Program is a federally mandated program under FTA's Rules and Regulations. In accordance with Federal Regulation 49 CFR Part 2, "FTA grantees that receive planning, capital and/or operating assistance and who award prime contracts cumulatively exceeding $250,000 must administer a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program." RTD's Small Business Opportunities Office (SBO), under the Civil Rights Division maintains a strong responsibility of ensuring that firms competing for contracts are not disadvantaged by unlawful discrimination. For this purpose, RTD's SBO sets goals on eligible projects for DBE/SBE participation and oversees the compliance with these goals. This program is in not a quota or set-aside program and will not in any way operate as one. The DBE/SBE Program was established by RTD to foster equal opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses by reducing unnecessary obstacles that prevent growth and continued development of small and disadvantaged businesses. RTD has set goals for DBE/SBE participation on US DOT assisted contracts and ensures compliance with these goals. In addition to compliance, the DBE/SBE Program tracks performance to ensure desirable and measurable results.

RTD's SBO also holds a committed responsibility for monitoring and tracking the performance of contractors and subcontractors working on all projects with SBE and DBE participation goals. Goals are not set on every contract, but for those contracts that have SBE/DBE goals the utilization of ready, willing and available SBE/DBE firms must be utilized in order to demonstrate a good faith effort in meeting or exceeding the goal. Within the compliance monitoring and tracking mechanisms the SBO office also makes it our responsibility to ensure prompt payment, a checks/ balances report, labor & workforce reviews and commercially useful function reviews.

While continuing to ensure compliance and relationships on our projects with DBE/SBEs we also will stay committed to helping DBE/SBEs by providing an array of services, mentoring resources, training opportunities, networking opportunities and information about upcoming contracting opportunities to increase the readiness and success for all of our DBE/SBE firms. This program is designed to ensure that the greatest number of DBE/SBE-certified consultants, contractors, community organizations in the area are given the opportunity to compete for RTD’s contracts. These valuable tools help the small and disadvantaged business community learn, grow, and thrive in a very competitive industry.