ADOT seeks public input on overall DBE goals for federally-funded contracts and 2022 DBE availability study

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation is seeking public input for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program as it updates its overall goals for this effort.

ADOT and agencies receiving funds through ADOT award contracts each month for transportation projects throughout the state. As a requirement of receiving U.S. Department of Transportation funds, ADOT must operate the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. 

ADOT is required. to set three-year overall goals for DBE participation in USDOT-funded contracts. ADOT has developed new overall DBE goals and is seeking public input. 

FHWA-funded contracts. ADOT is proposing an overall DBE goal for Federal Highway Administration funded contracts of 12.55 percent for fiscal year 2024 through 2026, which updates its current goal of 12.89 percent. In recent years, ADOT has achieved DBE participation very close to this goal.

Based on relative availability of DBEs for these contracts and other factors, ADOT also projects that it will not be able to achieve all of this goal solely through race-and gender-neutral means (ADOT small business programs and other efforts) and that a portion will need to be achieved through continued use of DBE contract goals. ADOT proposes to achieve the overall DBE goal of 12.55 percent with 7.65 percent to be achieved through race- and gender-conscious means and 4.90 percent to be achieved through race- and gender-neutral means. A new overall DBE goal must go into effect on Oct. 1, 2023. 

FAA-funded contracts. ADOT is proposing an overall DBE goal for Federal Aviation Administration funded contracts of 9.72 percent for fiscal year 2025 through 2027, which updates its current goal of 10.69 percent. ADOT proposes to continue to meet all of this overall DBE goal through race- and gender-neutral means and does not plan to use  DBE contract goals for these contracts. A new overall DBE goal must go into effect on Oct. 1, 2024.

FTA-funded contracts. ADOT is  proposing an overall DBE goal for Federal Transit Administration funded contracts  of 9.85 percent for fiscal year 2025 through 2027, which updates its current goal of 14.51 percent. ADOT proposes to  continue to meet all of this overall DBE goal through race- and gender-neutral means and does not plan to use DBE contract goals for any of these contracts. A new overall DBE goal must go into effect on Oct. 1, 2024.

Public comments. ADOT is seeking comments on its proposed overall DBE goals and the recently completed draft 2022 Availability Study Report that provides information regarding these goals. Keen Independent Research, which conducted ADOT’s 2020 Disparity Study, prepared the 2022 Availability Study. The public is encouraged to comment on the size of the proposed overall DBE goals, the methodology used to develop the goals, the results of the 2022 Availability Study, as well as suggestions on how to improve contracting opportunities for DBEs and other small businesses, including what ADOT and the industry can do to enhance support of the Federal DBE Program.  

The public comment period opens Nov. 15, and runs through Dec. 30, 2022. As part of the comment period, ADOT will be holding virtual public meetings on the following dates:

Nov. 30, from noon to 1 p.m. Zoom link:
https://tinyurl.com/ADOTNov30

Dec. 1, 2022, from 5 p.m.  to 6 p.m. Zoom link:
https://tinyurl.com/ADOTDec1

All documents related to the proposed goal and methodology and draft availability study will be available for review at /business/business-engagement-and-compliance/2022-dbe-availability-study-0. At any time during the public comment period, comments can also be provided in the following ways:

Verbal testimony: At public meetings.

Email: [email protected]

Mail: ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance, 1801 W. Jefferson Ave., MD 154A, Phoenix, AZ 85007. 

Fax: 602.712.8429

The public comment period will close on Dec. 30, 2022. All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits final DBE goal requests to FHWA, FTA and FAA.