Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
DBE Program Policy Statement and Program Objectives (§26.1, 26.23)
Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority (ECCTA) has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 26. As a recipient of Federal financial assistance from the DOT, ECCTA has signed an assurance that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26.
It is the policy of ECCTA to ensure that DBEs, as defined in 49 CFR Part 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-assisted contracts. The objectives of the DBE Program include:
1. Ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts;
2. Create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted contracts;
3. Ensure that the DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
4. Ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs;
5. Help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts; and
6. Adhere to the adopted ECCTA purchasing policy principles throughout all aspects of the DBE Program.
ECCTA’s Executive Assistant has been delegated as the DBE Liaison Officer (DBELO). In that capacity, the Executive Assistant is responsible for implementing all aspects of the DBE program. Implementation of the DBE program has the same priority as compliance with all other legal obligations incurred by ECCTA in its financial assistance agreements with the DOT.
ECCTA has disseminated this policy statement to its Board of Directors and to all departments of its organization. This policy statement is disseminated to members of the DBE and non-DBE business communities that perform or are interested in performing work on ECCTA’s DOT-assisted contracts. The policy statement is on the Tri Delta Transit website at www.trideltatransit.com/business.aspx. Questions regarding ECCTA’s DBE Program should be addressed to DBE Liaison Officer, 801 Wilbur Avenue, Antioch, CA 94509, fax 925-757-2530, telephone 925-754-6622, email civilrights@eccta.org.
DBE Goals
ECCTA establishes an overall goal for the participation of DBEs in contracting opportunities that are expected to receive federal financial assistance.
DBE and SBE Resources
- Search for a certified DBE firm- Prime contractors can search for certified DBE's to use as a subcontractor.
(Hosted by the California Department of Transportation, Office of Business & Economic Opportunity)
- Apply for DBE certification under the Unified Certification Program (UCP) of California- Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are small, for-profit businesses that are at least 51% owned by individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged, as defined by the federal government.
(Hosted by the California Department of Transportation, Office of Business & Economic Opportunity)
- NorCal PTAC/APEX Accelerators-NorCal PTAC/APEX Accelerators provides free services to help small businesses prepare for, pursue and perform on government contracts.
- SCORE East Bay-SCORE offers free business mentoring, low-cost or no-cost business training, and numerous templates and tools to help you start or grow a business.
- SCORE Workshop and Seminar Calendar
- U.S. DOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)- OSDBU's mission is to ensure small business policies and goals of the Secretary of Transportation are implemented in a fair, efficient and effective manner. OSDBU provides information on small business assistance, small business loans for women and veterans, and more small business resources.
- Southwest Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) The Southwest SBTRC provides an array of technical assistance to build the capacity of small and disadvantaged businesses.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)- SBA supports America's small busiensses. The SBA connects entrepeneurs with lenders and funding to help them plan, start and grow their business.
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Bonding and Contracting Education Program (BEP)- The Bonding and Contracting Education Program is a 5-workshop series program designed to prepare a cohort of DBEs to obtain bonds and learn best practices to compete for government transportation contracts. The program is taught by subject matter experts in bonds, finance, accounting, contract assistance, safety regulations, and more. Participants can obtain a Certificate of Completion from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This is a live online and interactive program that is hosted twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall.
- ECCTA encourages all businesses to use minority-owned financial institutions when seeking financial services.
A list of such financial institutions can be found here: Minority Depository Institutions Program
- Business Outreach Committee (BOC) - ECCTA (Tri Delta Transit) is a member of the BOC in the San Francisco Bay Area. The BOC is a consortium of Bay Area Transit and Transportation Agencies that assist small, disadvantaged and local firms in doing business with Bay Area transportation agencies. The BOC offers training, technical assistance, and relationship-building with agency staff and the contracting community of the San Francisco Bay Area. BOC newsletters are published quarterly and networking events are held throughout the year. For more information on the BOC, email civilrights@eccta.org or call 925-754-6622 and ask to speak with the DBE Liaison Officer.
Business Outreach Committee Brochure
Doing Business With Bay Area Transit Agencies
Business Outreach Committee Contracting Newsletter
Winter 2023
Summer 2022
Winter/Spring 2022
Fall 2021
Winter 2021
Summer 2021
Fall 2020
2023 Business Outreach Committee DBE and SBE Events
2022 Business Outreach Committee DBE and SBE Events