Business Center: Office of Business Development
Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a DBE?
• What is the DBE goal?
• Does my firm have to be certified as a DBE to do business with the RTA?
• How does DBE certification help my firm get RTA business?
• In what other ways does DBE certification help my firm?
• What are first steps for a firm interested in becoming a DBE?
• How long will it take for my firm to be certified?
• When is a bidder required to make "good faith efforts"?
• What is the Unified Certification Program (UCP)?
• How do I bid on contracts under $25,000?
• How does RTA monitor and enforce Prevailing Wages on construction contracts?
• How does RTA apply Affirmative Action to contracts?
• How is DBE participation monitored?

Q What is a DBE?

The Federal government defines a DBE as, a small business that must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more “socially and economically disadvantaged” individuals. The management and daily operations of the business must also be conducted by such individuals. Federal regulations presume that the following groups are “socially and economically disadvantaged”: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Portuguese Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Asian-Indian Americans, women, and any other individuals found to be socially and economically disadvantaged by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Q What is the DBE goal?

The DBE goal for Federal Fiscal Year 2006 is 17%.

Q Does my firm have to be certified as a DBE to do business with the RTA?

No. Any business, no matter who owns it, may compete for any RTA contract, either as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor, whether or not they are certified as a DBE. However, if your firm is seeking to perform work on a contract as a DBE, you must first obtain DBE certification.

Q How does DBE certification help my firm get RTA business?

The Office of Business Development (OBD) reviews contracts to determine whether they present opportunities for DBEs. Based on federal guidelines, the OBD may set goals for the participation of DBEs on a contract, help the prime contractor find qualified DBE subcontractors, and monitor the performance of the prime contractor to ensure that it is using good faith efforts to meet participation goals.

When a contract is ready to bid, OBD identifies available qualified DBE firms and make available a list of eligible DBE firms seeking bids.

Q In what other ways does DBE certification help my firm?

When the Office of Business Development (OBD) establishes a goal for DBE participation, prime contractors will seek to identify qualified DBE firms to meet contract goals. In general, those contractors will look for firms that have already been certified as DBEs.

Being a certified DBE may also open the door to opportunities for growing your business by making it easier for you to market to RTA agencies and other governmental entities. You will also gain the advantage of having your business listed in the RTA Directory of Certified DBE Firms. Prime contractors use the directory to identify DBEs for participation in their contracts.

Q What are the first steps for a firm interested in becoming certified as a DBE?

First, you will need to complete a DBE Certification Application. Then the Office of Business Development (OBD) will conduct a certification review pursuant to federal regulations.

Q How long will it take for my firm to be certified?

Please be advised the certification process may take up to 90 days.

Q When is a bidder required to make "good faith efforts"? How are "good faith efforts" evaluated in the bidding process?

A bidder is required to make "good faith efforts" when the firm determines that it can't meet the stated DBE goal. The types of actions considered as part of a bidder's "good faith efforts" include, but are not limited to the following:

• Adequate solicitation of DBE subcontractors through all reasonable and available means, with sufficient time for subcontractors to respond
• Selecting portions of the work to be performed in order to increase the likelihood that the goals will be achieved
• Providing interested potential subcontractors with adequate information about the plans, specifications and requirements of the contract in a timely manner
• Not rejecting potential subcontractors as unqualified without sound reasons based on a thorough investigation of their capabilities

Q What is the Unified Certification Program (UCP)?

The UCP will provide one-stop shopping for DBE firms. One unified directory including all certified DBE firms will be available for the entire State of Ohio. The advantages for the DBE firms are: one certification will enable them to be eligible to fulfill DBE goals set on any project with any governmental agency receiving Federal Transportation funding in Ohio; and the DBE firms will also have more visibility due to the unified state-wide directory.

Q How do I bid on contracts under $25,000?

In order to bid on small purchase contracts, prospective bidders should be on the procurement bidders list. The solicitation process for small purchases is the following:

• Small Purchases not exceeding $2,000 may be accomplished without quotations, from vendors. DBE vendors shall be afforded maximum opportunity practical to participate.
• For purchases that have a total value between $2,000 and $5,000 a minimum of three (3) verbal quotations are required to be requested. Of these quotations, one is to be the previous supplier and efforts are to be made to include DBE vendors.
• Purchases with an estimated value between $5,000.01 and $25,000 shall require written quotation from a minimum of three (3) vendors and efforts shall be made to include DBE vendors.

Q How does RTA monitor and enforce Prevailing Wages on construction contracts?

The Davis Bacon Act and the State of Ohio Revised Code, Title XLI Labor and Industry, Chapter 4115 Wage and Hours on Public Works govern GCRTA. GCRTA is required to comply with all prevailing wage and hours regulation. Prevailing wages are monitored through the submission of certified payrolls by the contractor to GCRTA.

Q How does RTA apply Affirmative Action to contracts?

All bidders are required to complete and submit Equal Employment and Affirmative Action paperwork at the time of bid. The Office of Business Development reviews all EEO/AA information submitted by bidders. After a contract is awarded all contractors are required to submit EEO reports every six months for the duration of the contract.

Q How is DBE participation monitored?

At the time of bid, bidders are required to submit all DBE participation forms provided in the solicitation package. After contract award, OBD conducts desk audits of all contracts and requires all contractors to submit vendor payment forms to ensure payment is made to all DBE’s for work completed.