BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) conducted a disparity study for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to assess outcomes for person of color- and woman-owned businesses in Caltrans' Federal Transit Authority (FTA)-funded contracting and procurement. The study will help inform Caltrans' efforts to encourage the participation of those businesses in Caltrans' FTA-funded work as well as provide necessary information to assist Caltrans in setting its Federal Fiscal Year 2026-2028 Triennial Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Goal.

BBC, with Caltrans' support, will be holding two (2) public comment sessions to provide information about the study's results, information about Caltrans' proposed Triennial DBE Goal, answer questions about the study and the goal, and collect comments regarding the proposed goal.

Please visit the disparity study website at https://dot.ca.gov/programs/civil-rights/disparity-study , e-mail CaltransDisparity@bbcresearch.com  for more information

The City and County of San Francisco is launching a contracting equity study to better understand and address barriers that small and local business enterprises face when trying to access the City’s contract and procurement opportunities. The results of the study will inform efforts to improve the City’s 14B: Local Business Enterprise program and encourage more small and local businesses to partner with the City in delivering goods and services.

The City invites you to add your voice to the study. With the support of BBC Research & Consulting, a leading contracting equity research firm, the City will host (2) community engagement sessions to provide information about the study, answer questions, and collect insights about business conditions in the San Francisco marketplace. Your perspectives will be integrated into the study.

You do not have to register to attend the meeting, but we encourage you to sign up so we know how many people will attend. Register here: https://forms.gle/2AzZtjFLz4kQsPvr8

Please visit the contracting equity study website at https://www.sf.gov/contracting-equitystudy or e-mail SFContractingEquity@bbcresearch.com for more information.

The Business Outreach Committee, a consortium of Bay Area public transit and transportation agencies, invites you to a FREE DBE Legal Update Webinar presented by Colette Holt, founder of Colette Holt & Associates.

Mrs. Holt will provide key legal updates on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, including recent court cases and their impacts, current legal challenges, and strategies for improving compliance. She will also share best practices and insights on how DBEs can position their firms for continued growth and success.

Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM (PST)
Location: Zoom Webinar

We look forward to your participation!

Caltrans announces its new Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) overall participation goal of 21.35% for Federal Fiscal Years 2025-2027. This is slightly lower than the 2022-2024 goal of 22.23%.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s DBE Program, outlined in 49 Code of Federal Regulation Part 26.45, aims to “level the playing field” and allow women- and minority-owned businesses a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded contracts – free of discrimination. As recipients of federal funding, Caltrans must set an overall annual goal every three years. To read the Goal and Methodology Report,  visit www.dot.ca.gov/programs/civil-rights/disparity-study.

AAA+E is honored to partner with Stantec to recognize outstanding students studying architecture and engineering in the Bay Area. The scholarship program upholds our organization's goal to support professional development of young design leaders.

Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship Award winners for demonstrating excellence in their field of study, Isis Jimenez and Lauren Yeh.

Isis Jimenez

5th Year San Francisco State University
Field of Study: Civil Engineering

Lauren Yeh

4th year University of San Francisco
Field of Study: Architecture

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

Virtual Pre-Bid Conference for a Request for Qualifications for Design Services for Central Valley Stations and Small Business Workshop

Thursday, May 12, 2022
Zoom Webinar (space is limited)

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to procure an architectural and engineering contract for design services for Central Valley Stations, including Bakersfield, Kings/Tulare, Fresno, and Merced.

The contract’s scope of work will be awarded, segmented and delivered in two Notices to Proceed (NTP). NTP 1 will include design of the stations to Configuration Footprint level. If the NTP 2 option is issued, at the Authority’s sole discretion, it will include development of the design to 100% construction and ready to bid documents as well as bidding, construction administration and commissioning support services. The Authority will evaluate each offeror’s Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for qualifications to perform the entire scope of work, which includes the NTP 2 option.

Please join representatives from the Authority at this virtual pre-bid conference to learn more about the requirements of the procurement and the importance of small business participation.

Additionally, the Authority’s Small Business team will be hosting an informational workshop following the pre-bid (see schedule below). The purpose of the workshop is to provide a detailed overview of the Small Business Program, small business compliance, and information on the certifications that count toward the Authority’s small business goals. The event will also include a certification workshop with the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) followed by a Q & A session.

Attendance at this virtual pre-bid conference or small business workshop is not a prerequisite to submitting a Statement of Qualifications.

Agenda:

• Virtual Pre-Bid:
• • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Break:
• • 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Virtual Small Business Workshop:
• • 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Register Here:
https://hsr-ca-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sxlZs1pWSHeWh3fvdaamtQ

Please note there is a single registration for both the Pre-Bid Conference and Small Business Workshops. Attendance at both events is not required. You can use the same registration link to access both events.

Click Here to Read the RFQ Online:
https://caleprocure.ca.gov/event/2665/0000023121

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Caltrans is pleased to announce the release of its 2021 Disparity Study report and proposed overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal and methodology for federal fiscal years 2022-2024. Documentation is now available for review on the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) website; please click HERE to access the website.

Caltrans 2021 Disparity Study analyzed potential DBE availability and utilization in its Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funded contracts. Based on the study results, Caltrans proposed overall DBE goal for for federal fiscal years 2022-2024 will be 22.2 percent (22.2%).

Caltrans will host a series of virtual public comment meetings from August 20 to September 1, 2021 to provide a forum for interested parties to provide feedback regarding the proposed overall DBE goal and methodology. Caltrans will incorporate comments into its overall DBE goal and methodology submission; they may also be used to improve the effectiveness of the Caltrans DBE program.

Please visit https://tinyurl.com/CaltransPCF to register. If you are unable to attend a virtual public comment forum, you may submit written comments no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 via the following ways:

• Email: disparity.study@dot.ca.gov
• Mail: Caltrans Office of Civil Rights, MS-79, Attn Disparity Study, 1823 14th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811

Join us!

https://tinyurl.com/CaltransPCF

Friday tomorrow!), 8/27 at 10am

Tuesday, 8/31 at 9am

Wednesday, 9/1 at 1pm.

ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL
CERTIFIED SLBE / LBE
CONSULTANTS

You are invited to the forthcoming Caltrans D4 A&E Outreach on November 15, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the CPR Room in the basement of Caltrans D4 Building, 111 Grand Avenue, Oakland. 

See this flyer for details.

For event information contact AE.Customer.Service@dot.ca.gov