10-1_Notice_to_Proposers_DBE_Info..pdf

Local Assistance Procedures Manual Exhibit 10-I Notice to Proposers DBE Information

January 2025

Exhibit 10-I: Notice to Proposers DBE Information (federally funded projects only)

The Local Public Agency (LPA) has established a DBE goal for this Contract of ____________%

1. TERMS AS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT

• The term “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise” or “DBE” means a for-profit small business concern owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged person(s) as defined in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 26.5.

• The term “Agreement” also means “Contract.”

• LPA also means the local entity entering into this contract with the Contractor or Consultant.

• The term “Small Business” or “SB” is as defined in 49 CFR 26.65.

2. AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

A. DBEs and other small businesses are strongly encouraged to participate in the performance of

Contracts financed in whole or in part with federal funds (see 49 CFR 26: Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Financial Assistance Programs).

The Consultant must ensure that DBEs and other small businesses have the opportunity to participate in the performance of the work that is the subject of this solicitation and should take all necessary and reasonable steps for this assurance. The proposer must not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex in the award and performance of subcontracts.

B. Proposers are encouraged to use services offered by financial institutions owned and controlled by DBEs.

3. SUBMISSION OF DBE INFORMATION

If there is a DBE goal on the contract, Exhibit 10-O1: Consultant Proposal DBE Commitment must be included in the Proposal. In order for a proposer to be considered responsible and responsive, the proposer must make good faith efforts to meet the goal established for the contract. If the goal is not met, the proposer must document adequate good faith efforts. All DBE participation will be counted towards meeting the contract goal; therefore, all DBE participation must be collected and reported.

Exhibit 10-O2: Consultant Contract DBE Information must be included in best qualified consultant’s executed consultant contract. Even if no DBE participation will be reported, the successful proposer must execute and return the form.

4. DBE PARTICIPATION GENERAL INFORMATION

It is the proposer’s responsibility to be fully informed regarding the requirements of 49 CFR 26, and the Department’s DBE program developed pursuant to the regulations. Particular attention is directed to the following:

A. A DBE must be a small business firm defined pursuant to 13 CFR 121 and be certified through the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP).

B. A certified DBE may participate as a prime consultant, subconsultant, joint venture partner, as a vendor of material or supplies, or as a trucking company.

C. A DBE proposer not proposing as a joint venture with a non-DBE, will be required to document one or a combination of the following:

1. The proposer is a DBE and will meet the goal by performing work with its own forces.

Local Assistance Procedures Manual Exhibit 10-I Notice to Proposers DBE Information

January 2025

2. The proposer will meet the goal through work performed by DBE subconsultants, suppliers or trucking companies.

3. The proposer, prior to proposing, made adequate good faith efforts to meet the goal.

D. A DBE joint venture partner must be responsible for specific contract items of work or clearly defined portions thereof. Responsibility means actually performing, managing, and supervising the work with its own forces. The DBE joint venture partner must share in the capital contribution, control, management, risks and profits of the joint venture commensurate with its ownership interest.

E. A DBE must perform a commercially useful function pursuant to 49 CFR 26.55, that is, a DBE firm must be responsible for the execution of a distinct element of the work and must carry out its responsibility by actually performing, managing and supervising the work.

F. The proposer must list only one subconsultant for each portion of work as defined in their proposal and all DBE subconsultants should be listed in the bid/cost proposal list of subconsultants.

G. A prime consultant who is a certified DBE is eligible to claim all of the work in the Contract toward the DBE participation except that portion of the work to be performed by non-DBE subconsultants.

5. COUNTING DBE PARTICIPATION

Materials or supplies purchased from DBEs count towards the DBE goal under the following conditions:

A. If the materials or supplies are obtained from a DBE manufacturer, count 100 percent of the cost of the materials or supplies. A DBE manufacturer is a firm that operates or maintains a factory, or establishment that produces on the premises the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment required under the Contract and of the general character described by the specifications.

B. If the materials or supplies purchased from a DBE regular dealer, count 60 percent of the cost of the materials or supplies. A DBE regular dealer is a firm that owns, operates or maintains a store, warehouse, or other establishment in which the materials, supplies, articles or equipment of the general character described by the specifications and required under the Contract are bought, kept in stock, and regularly sold or leased to the public in the usual course of business. To be a DBE regular dealer, the firm must be an established, regular business that engages, as its principal business and under its own name, in the purchase and sale or lease of the products in question. A person may be a DBE regular dealer in such bulk items as petroleum products, steel, cement, gravel, stone or asphalt without owning, operating or maintaining a place of business provided in this section.

C. If the person both owns and operates distribution equipment for the products, any supplementing of regular dealers’ own distribution equipment must be, by a long-term lease agreement and not an ad hoc or Agreement-by-Agreement basis. Packagers, brokers, manufacturers’ representatives, or other persons who arrange or expedite transactions are not DBE regular dealers within the meaning of this section.

D. Materials or supplies purchased from a DBE, which is neither a manufacturer nor a regular dealer, will be limited to the entire amount of fees or commissions charged for assistance in the procurement of the materials and supplies, or fees or transportation charges for the delivery of materials or supplies required on the job site, provided the fees are reasonable and not excessive as compared with fees charged for similar services

6. RESOURCES

A. The CUCP database includes the certified DBEs from all certifying agencies participating in the CUCP. If you believe a firm is certified that cannot be located on the database, please email DBE.Certification@dot.ca.gov for assistance.

B. Access the CUCP database from the Department of Transportation, Office of Civil Rights website. For guidance on how to search for certified firms using the CUCP database, please visit: DBE Goal Setting | Caltrans mailto:DBE.Certification@dot.ca.gov https://caltrans.dbesystem.com/ https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/local-civil-compliance/dbe-goal-setting https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/local-civil-compliance/dbe-goal-setting

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