Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program | Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

SMART has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26. SMART has received or plans to receive Federal financial assistance from the Department of Transportation, and as a condition of receiving this assistance, SMART has signed an assurance that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26.

It is the policy of SMART to ensure that DBEs, as defined in Part 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-assisted contracts.

SMART has disseminated this policy statement to the SMART Board and all of the relevant components of our organization. We have distributed this statement to DBE and non-DBE business communities that perform, or are anticipated to perform, work for us on DOT-assisted contracts. 

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

What is a DBE?

  • A Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) is a for-profit small business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged, as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

 

How does my business become a certified DBE?

  • Please review the DOT’s Requirements to Participate as a DBE.  The DOT DBE and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) Regulations (49 CFR Part 23 and 49 CFR Part 26) place primary responsibility for the certification process upon State Transportation Agencies, that form a “Unified Certification Program (UCP)” in each state, which provides a one-stop shop for applicant firms seeking certification.
  • The California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) is responsible for DBE certification throughout the state, which is managed by the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
  • To apply for DBE certification, you can contact any of the ten CUCP Certifying Partners by clicking here.

 

Who is eligible for SMART’s DBE Program?

  • To participate in SMART’s DBE program, a business must be certified through a CUCP member agency and must be approved in the NAICS code(s) that match the type of work required in the contract. 

 

How do I locate certified DBEs, Disabled Veteran Businesses (DVBE), and Small Businesses (SBs)?

 

Does SMART have a DBE Goal?

  • SMART has a 3.45% DBE goal for Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2024 through 2026.  This means we anticipate that 3.45% of our federally assisted contract dollars will be awarded to certified DBEs during this period. 
  • We plan to meet this goal through race-neutral measures. Race-neutral means that SMART will implement strategies that are not specifically limited to DBEs but are designed to assist all small businesses. These measures include outreach, technical assistance, simplifying the bidding process, and unbundling large contracts to create more opportunities for small business participation without the use of contract-specific DBE goals.

 

How do I access current and upcoming business opportunities?

  • SMART utilizes an eProcurement Portal to solicit bids and proposals.  To register as a vendor with SMART and to view current contracting opportunities, please visit sonomamarintrain.org/business.

 

DISADVANTAGED AND SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH

As part of our commitment to improving transportation across the Sonoma-Marin region, SMART actively seeks to engage DBEs and Small and Local Businesses in contracting opportunities. This includes work in construction, procurement, and professional services.

By removing barriers to participation and promoting open competition, SMART helps ensure that qualified businesses have a fair chance to compete and grow, while contributing to the strength of the local economy and the communities we connect.

 

BUSINESS OUTREACH COMMITTEE (BOC)

SMART is an active partner of the BOC comprised of over 26 Bay Area Transit Agencies.  The BOC hosts several events throughout the year to assist and encourage Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) to do business with government agencies.  For information regarding the BOC, please click here.

 

BUSINESS RESOURCES