Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

FRED Transit Seeks Public Comment on its Proposed FY2022-24 Goal for Participation in Procurement Opportunities by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) and its 2022-2024 Title VI Program

Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED) is seeking public comment on its proposed goal for participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in its federally funded procurements and its updated Title VI Program.

As a recipient of U.S. DOT funding, FRED has established a DBE Program to ensure DBEs have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-assisted contracts. FRED is required to establish a goal for its use of DBEs in its procurement of goods and services and to seek public input on that goal. A draft calculation has been prepared that sets that goal at 2.4 percent of all DOT-assisted procurement opportunities for FY2022-24. The methodology for calculating the DBE goal and the full text for FRED’s DBE Program and Title VI Program can be found at RideFRED.com. Copies can also be obtained at 1400 Emancipation Highway, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, or by requesting a copy by email from Ms. Sharon Sullivan at slsullivan@fredericksburgva.gov. FRED will accept written and/or emailed comments on the proposed DBE goal until July 20, 2021.

FRED will host a virtual public meeting on June 28, 2021 at 9:00 am to discuss its Title VI non-discrimination policy and provide an opportunity to comment on the DBE goal. This will be a GoToMeeting, which can be joined by using the following address: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/268913885 or by phone: (312) 757-3121 and enter Access Code: 268-913-885. If assistance is needed, please contact Ms. Sullivan by email or at 540.372.1222 x705.

Please review our draft DBE Goal: FRED Draft DBE Goal (PDF)

Overview

The Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) Program seeks to ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts in the Department's highway, transit, and airport financial assistance programs and to create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted contracts. The FTA Office of Civil Rights is responsible for monitoring FTA recipients' DBE programs and ensuring their compliance with the Department of Transportation's (DOT) DBE regulation found at 49 CFR Part 26.

FRED has developed and implemented a DBE program that conforms to the U.S. DOT standards set forth in 49 CFR Part 26.

How to Become a DBE (PDF)

FRED's DBE Program

Statement of Policy

It is the policy of FRED Transit to ensure that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and small businesses have an equal opportunity to participate in and receive U.S. DOT-assisted procurements.  It is also our policy to:

  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. Implement the DBE Program plan in accordance with applicable law;
  4. Ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to be counted as DBEs on FRED contracts;
  5. Provide DBEs and small business concerns with referrals to business development services so they can compete successfully in the market place outside the DBE Program; and.
  6. Monitor and enforce the requirements of the DBE Program on DOT-assisted contracts.

FRED's adopted DBE program can be viewed by selecting FRED's DBE Program

Public Notice: DBE Triennial Goal FY2019-FY2021

To the extent possible, FRED will seek to meet its DBE participation goal through race neutral measures; i.e. without setting specific goals for individual contracts. However, FRED may use race-conscious measures (i.e., set specific goals for individual contracts) if we determine that we will not be able to meet our goal through the use of race-neutral measures.

DBE Liaison Officer

For more information or questions about the DBE Program, please contact:

Ms. Sharon Sullivan

540.372.1222 ext. 705

slsullivan@fredericksburgva.gov

The Commonwealth of Virginia's DBE Program Information and Certification Process

Information about the Commonwealth’s DBE program; including information that will guide companies through the certification process, can be found on the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity website.

Please be aware that the Commonwealth also has a program for Small, Women and Minority (SWaM) owned businesses.  A certified SWaM business does NOT translate into being certified as a DBE.