Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) ProgramMn/DOT – ACEC Annual Consultant

Conference

Mary Prescott, DirectorMn/DOT, Office of Civil Rights

March 1, 2011

The DBE Program prohibits discrimination in the award and performance of USDOT-assisted contracts. Its objective is to increase participation of women and minority-owned small business enterprises in state and local procurement by:

• ensuring that small DBEs can compete fairly for federally funded transportation-related projects;

• ensuring that only eligible firms participate as DBEs; and • assisting DBE firms in competing outside the DBE Program.Intent: Remedy Past & Current Discrimination

DBE Program Overview

• FFY 2009 - DBE goal 15.3 percent. The achievement rate was 3.6 percent.

• FFY 2010 and 2011 - DBE goal is 8.7 percent. The achievement rate for FFY 10 is 5.6%.

Recently amended federal regulations changed the goal setting period to every three years. Minnesota’s next DBE goal request is due prior to September 30, 2011 for FFY 2012

Mn/DOT’s DBE Goal – FFY 09 and FFY 10

National DBE % of FHWA Contract Dollars

• Goals are set on all projects $350,000 and over(Race Conscious Measures) Temporary ARRA Funding

• Projects under $350,000 (Race Gender Neutral Measures) and No Project Goals are Set

• Project Goals are set by analyzing:1. Project Size and Scope of Work2. Location of Project3. DBE Availability 4. Other Relevant Factors

Project Goals

2009 DataIn 2009, approximately 483 Mn/DOT projects had proposed

DBE goals on them. Of the 483 contracts with DBE goals, contractors met the goal in 102 contracts or 21% of them.

2010 Data In 2010, approximately 226 Mn/DOT projects had proposed

DBE goals on them. Of the 226 contracts with DBE goals, contractors met the goal in 119 contracts or 53% of them.

Revised DBE Special Provision – 10/22/2010

Contracts

The Goal is to maximize opportunities for DBEs. 1. Promote earlier involvement 2. Increase the number of contractors meeting and exceeding

their DBE Commitment at time of bid letting.3. Shift good faith efforts to the period prior to the bid submittal

time eliminating most 0% commitment rates submitted in bids (an established performance measure)

Effective: 10/26/10 Letting Six Month Evaluation Period

Revised DBE Special Provision Goals

Collaborative Mission – “have the contractors and workforce participation within the Minnesota transportation industry reflect the demographics of the State of Minnesota”

Eleven Project Teams: 1) Results Transparency; 2) Coordinated Access Point; 3) On-The-Job Training (OJT) Program ; 4) Civil Rights Program Training; 5) OJT Trainee Tracking and Retention; 6) Targeted Group Business (TGB); 7) DBE Program ; 8) Veteran’s Program 9) Mentor Protégé Program for DBEs; 10 Working Capital Fund; 11) Pilot Project.

DBE & Workforce Dev. Collaborative

Restructured in May of 2009• External customer/partner/stakeholder needs• Expansion of a DBE Business Development Program• Internal Accountability• Advanced Data Reporting Capability• Regionalization of the DBE and Contract Compliance

Specialists to strengthen relationships with all partners PROVIDE PROJECT SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS • Development of employee skill sets

Office of Civil Rights Reorganization

• Pilot Project – I-694/TH10/Snelling – PreBid Meeting, Project Mgmt., Post Award Mtg., etc.

• DBE Professional/Technical Roundtables - Professional /Technical Contracts

• Design Build Meet and Greets• Business Development Opportunities –

Mentor Protégé, Working Capital Fund, Increased and Focused Classes

DBE Program

Mn/DOT has convened a DBE Professional/Technical Consultant Roundtable which has been meeting quarterly this past year. This group consists of DBEs and members of Mn/DOT to specifically address and discuss:

Questions, issues and concerns from DBEsConsultant collaboration updates and initiativesConsultant contracting newsPrequalification Program

Professional/Technical

.

Questions..