PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is seeking public input on proposed goals for the percentage value of federal-aid contract dollars won by firms certified for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.

In an update required every three years, ADOT is proposing that 9.55 percent of total dollars in contracts funded by the Federal Highway Administration go to DBE firms during fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020. The agency anticipates that 5 percent will be achieved through small-business programs and other efforts that are neutral when it comes to race and gender, and that 4.55 percent will be achieved through contract goals.

ADOT’s current DBE goal for Federal Highway Administration-funded contracts is 8.9 percent, and the agency has exceeded that goal during the past two fiscal years. 

The proposed goal, which will be submitted this summer to the Federal Highway Administration and go into effect Oct. 1, stems from a recently completed draft DBE Availability Study that also sets goals for DBE participation in Federal Aviation Administration contracts from fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2021 and Federal Transit Administration contracts from fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2022.

For Federal Aviation Administration-funded contracts, ADOT has proposed an overall DBE goal of 8.05 percent, to be achieved through efforts that are neutral when it comes to race and gender. For Federal Transit Administration-funded contracts, ADOT’s preliminary DBE goal of 2.79 percent, to be achieved through efforts that are neutral when it comes to race and gender, will be re-examined prior to submission to that agency in 2019.

ADOT offers several ways for business representatives and other interested stakeholders to provide input on these proposed goals and the draft DBE Availability Study, and to offer suggestions for improving contracting opportunities for DBEs and other small businesses.

ADOT has scheduled the following public hearings:

• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, at Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center, 1660 W. Ruthrauff Road, Tucson
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, June 15, at the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office, 1801 W. Jefferson St., Suite 101, Phoenix

At any time during the public comment period, which begins Monday, May 15, and lasts through Thursday, June 22, the public also can provide comments through:

• Online: ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office, azdot.gov/BECO
• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office, 1801 W. Jefferson St. , Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85007
• Fax: 602.712.8429

During the public comment period, all documents related to the proposed goals and the draft DBE Availability Study are available for review during regular business hours at the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office, 1801 W. Jefferson St., Suite 101, in Phoenix.

All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits final DBE goal requests to the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Transit Administration.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation and partner agencies will hold an event Thursday, March 16, offering tips and tools to owners of small businesses and companies qualifying for the agency’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.

The DBE & Small Business Transportation Expo, scheduled for 7 a.m. to noon at Glendale Civic Center, will allow attendees to learn about project opportunities, network with industry professionals and business owners and hear from transportation leaders including featured speaker ADOT Director John Halikowski. Also participating are the Phoenix Public Transit and Street Transportation departments, Valley Metro and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program helps qualifying small businesses compete for contracts. The companies must be owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, including women and minorities.

“ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program is critical to helping to reduce barriers to entry and teaching DBEs and small businesses how to fish, thrive and survive in the transportation industry,” said Dr. Vivien Lattibeaudiere, manager of ADOT’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office. “With access to project opportunities, they can become a meaningful part of building the transportation infrastructure in our state.”

To register for this free event, visit adotdbeexpo.com.

Although the expo is geared toward Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and small businesses, it’s open to all businesses, public agencies, vendors and community partners with an interest in the transportation industry.

For more on the workshop or ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, contact the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office at 602.712.7761 or visit azdot.gov/dbe.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has begun the process of updating its goal for the percentage value of federal-aid contract dollars won by firms certified for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.

To do so, the agency has retained Keen Independent Research to develop a draft study on the availability of disadvantaged business enterprises in Arizona. This availability study will be completed in May and released for public review and comment along with ADOT’s proposed participation goal for disadvantaged business enterprises.

Every three years, ADOT must submit to the Federal Highway Administration an overall annual participation goal for disadvantaged business enterprises, expressed as a percentage of dollars going to certified firms from contracts using U.S. Department of Transportation funds.

Two public meetings on the proposed goal will be held in June, with public comments to be accepted through the end of June. The new goal, which must be submitted this summer, will go into effect on Oct. 1.

As part of this process, ADOT will seek comments on the proposed participation goal, the draft availability study, the conditions for minority- and women-owned firms in the Arizona transportation contracting marketplace, and other topics. All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits its final goal request to the Federal Highway Administration.

Through federal fiscal year 2017, ADOT has an overall disadvantaged business enterprise participation goal of 8.9 percent for contracts using Federal Highway Administration funds, setting contract-specific goals on some of its federally funded contracts to help meet the goal. During the past two fiscal years, ADOT has exceeded its goal.

ADOT will also use results of the availability study results to develop new overall disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals for its contracts funded by the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration.

ADOT is briefing industry groups about the availability study and the goal-setting process and will provide regular updates on the process through the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance website, azdot.gov/BECO.

PRESCOTT – An Arizona Department of Transportation conference in October will help owners of small businesses and those qualifying for ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program learn how to bid for projects and contracts.

The Statewide DBE & Small Business Conference, to be held Oct. 12 and 13 at the Prescott Resort & Conference Center, will feature workshops, networking opportunities and one-on-one time with experts in areas such as banking, insurance and bonding, marketing and consulting. The goal: helping small businesses and those owned by members of socially and economically disadvantaged groups compete for projects that receive federal funding.

“ADOT recognizes the value that DBEs and small businesses bring to our state, which is why it’s essential to help them learn how to thrive in the transportation industry,” said Dr. Vivien Lattibeaudiere, manager of ADOT’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office. “With access to project opportunities, they can become a meaningful part of building the transportation infrastructure in our state.”

Although the conference is geared toward disadvantaged business enterprises and small businesses, it’s open to all businesses, public agencies, vendors and community partners with an interest in transportation.

For more information visit ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program or contact the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office at 602.712.7761.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation and partner agencies will hold an event Wednesday, Feb. 10, offering tips and tools to owners of small businesses and companies qualifying for the agency’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.

The DBE & Small Business Transportation Expo, scheduled for 7 a.m. to noon at Glendale Civic Center, will allow attendees to learn about project opportunities, network with industry professionals and business owners and hear from transportation leaders including featured speaker ADOT Director John Halikowski. Also participating are the Phoenix Public Transit and Street Transportation departments, Valley Metro and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“ADOT is committed to providing equal opportunity to businesses wishing to help build and sustain Arizona’s transportation infrastructure,” Halikowski said. “In federal fiscal year 2015, ADOT alone awarded $40 million in contracts to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.”

ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program helps qualifying small businesses compete for contracts. The companies must be owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, including women and minorities.

“ADOT’s DBE program is critical to helping to reduce barriers to entry and teaching DBEs and small businesses how to fish, thrive and survive in the transportation industry,” said Dr. Vivien Lattibeaudiere, manager of ADOT’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office. “With access to project opportunities, they can become a meaningful part of building the transportation infrastructure in our state.”

To register for this free event, visit adotdbeexpo.com.

Although the expo is geared toward Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and small businesses, it’s open to all businesses, public agencies, vendors and community partners with an interest in the transportation industry.

For more on the workshop or ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, contact the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office at 602.712.7761 or visit azdot.gov/dbe.

PHOENIX — Nearly every month, the Arizona Department of Transportation awards contracts to companies specializing in design, construction, transit and other components of transportation projects throughout the state. Some of these companies are federally certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), which are small businesses owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. ADOT operates a DBE program to assist these firms with securing contracts that use U.S. Department of Transportation funds, and ADOT is currently seeking public input on its proposed goals for DBE participation in contracts for the next three years, along with public input on the results of a draft Disparity Study Report.

Every three years, ADOT must set an overall annual goal for the participation of DBEs. For federal fiscal years 2015 through 2017, ADOT is proposing a final goal of 8.90 percent of the total dollars of Federal Highway Administration-funded contracts awarded to DBE firms, with 5.00 percent to be achieved through race- and gender-neutral means (ADOT small business programs and other efforts) and 3.90 percent to be achieved through race- and gender-conscious means (contract goals). ADOT is also proposing overall DBE goals for Federal Transit Administration contracts of 7.25 percent for federal fiscal years 2016-2018 and Federal Aviation Administration contracts of 4.87 percent for federal fiscal years 2017-2019, both of which to be met through race- and gender-neutral means. 

Recently, ADOT completed a draft Disparity Study Report that provides the data to support the DBE goals. The draft study provides analysis and results of the utilization and availability of minority- and women-owned firms — by race, ethnic and gender group — to determine whether there are disparities in the past utilization of those firms in ADOT and local public agency contracts. In addition, the study includes analysis of in-depth interviews with business owners, trade associations and others about their experiences related to the transportation contracting industry in Arizona.

Business representatives and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to comment on the size of the proposed overall DBE goals, the means proposed to achieve the goals and the results of the Disparity Study. ADOT would also like to receive public input on experiences competing for or working on ADOT projects, suggestions on how to improve contracting opportunities for DBEs and other small businesses, and what ADOT and the transportation industry can do to enhance support of the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. 

Public Hearings
Interested persons are encouraged to attend one of four public hearings in July. All public hearings will be held from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., with an ADOT presentation at 3:15. Time will be allotted to allow members of the public to provide comments.

July 8 – Flagstaff   
High Country Conference Center — 1899 Ballroom
201 W. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86001

July 13 – Yuma
Pivot Point Conference Center (near Hilton Garden Inn Yuma) — Anza/Redondo boardrooms
301 N. Madison Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364

July 14 – Tucson
Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center
1660 W. Ruthrauff Rd., Tucson, AZ 85705

July 16 – Phoenix
Arizona Department of Transportation Human Resources Development Center
1130 N. 22nd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009

45-day Public Comment Period
All documents related to the proposed DBE goal, methodology and draft Disparity Study Report will be available for review from June 8 through July 23, 2015, online or at the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office, 1135 N. 22nd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009.

During the 45-day public comment period, comments may be provided in the following ways:

• Verbal Testimony: At public hearings
• By email
• Online
• Fax: 928.684.3021
• Mail: Keen Independent Research, 172 N. Washington St., Wickenburg, AZ 85390

The public comment period will close on July 23, 2015. All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits final DBE goal requests to the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration and Federal Aviation Administration.

Persons who require a reasonable accommodation based on language or disability should contact ADOT at [email protected] or 602.712.7761. Requests should be made as early as possible to ensure the state has an opportunity to address the accommodation.

Personas que requieren asistencia o una adaptación razonable por habilidad limitada en inglés o discapacidad deben ponerse en contacto con ADOT al [email protected] o 602.712.7761. Las solicitudes deben hacerse tan pronto como sea posible para asegurar que el estado tiene la oportunidad de hacer los arreglos necesarios.

PHOENIX – Nearly every month, the Arizona Department of Transportation goes through the process to award contracts to construction companies for transportation projects. ADOT is currently seeking public input on the total value of federally-funded contracts that should be awarded to disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firms.

ADOT is proposing a preliminary goal of 9.38 percent of the total dollars of Federal Highway Administration-funded contracts awarded to DBE firms over the next three fiscal years, with 5.44 percent to be achieved through race-neutral means (ADOT small business programs and other efforts) and 3.94 percent to be achieved through race-conscious means (contract goals).  ADOT’s current goal for FHWA-funded contracts is 7.76 percent. 

ADOT is seeking public input on this goal and wants to hear from women and minority business owners and organizations, contractors, engineering consultants and other interested stakeholders.   The public is encouraged to comment on the size of the goal, the methodology used to calculate the goal, their experience competing for or working on ADOT projects, their suggestions on how to improve contracting opportunities for DBEs and other small businesses and what ADOT can do to enhance its support of the DBE and small business community.

The public comment period runs from Aug. 4 through Sept. 17.  As part of the comment period, ADOT will be holding public hearings on the following dates at locations around the state:

All public hearings will be held from 3 – 6 p.m. with ADOT presentations at 3:15 and 5:15 p.m.

All documents related to the proposed goal and methodology will be available for review from Aug. 4 through Sept. 17 online and during normal business hours at the following locations:

At any time during the 45-day public comment period, comments can be provided in the following ways:

• Verbal testimony at public hearings
• Online
• Email
• By Mail: Keen Independent Research, 172 N. Washington Street, Wickenburg, AZ 85390

The public comment period will close on Sept.17.  All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits the preliminary DBE goal to FHWA at the end of September.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will conduct a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Availability and Disparity Study designed to determine whether minority- and women-owned business enterprises have had equal access to federally assisted transportation contracting opportunities within the state.

The study, which is required by U.S. Department of Transportation, is designed to determine whether there is an inequity between the utilization of women- and minority-owned businesses and the demographics of the general business community. The study will also examine if Disadvantaged Business Enterprise businesses are awarded a proper percentage of contracts based on their availability to perform transportation-related work.

The study will further examine ADOT’s contracting practices and policies to determine how well they promote equal opportunities in awarding contracts. The results of this study will help ADOT set annual Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goals for federally funded projects, as well as reinforce efforts to help Disadvantaged Business Enterprise businesses fairly compete for transportation contracts.

ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program has had success in reaching out to the minority-owned business community to educate them on how they can manage their small businesses and better compete for transportation contracts through training workshops, conferences and educational material made available online.

Business owners, trade associations and community groups throughout the state will have the opportunity to participate in the study and provide comments about their experiences related to transportation work or assisting women- and minority-owned businesses. Throughout the spring, the study team will be contacting businesses by phone to collect information about their availability for different types of ADOT contracts. 

This is the second disparity study conducted by ADOT. The first study was completed in 2009 as a result of a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case and U.S. Department of Transportation guidance that disparity studies must be completed before Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goals on transportation contracts can be set.