Austin proposes changes to M/WBE program, outreach steps

The City of Austin's Small and Minority Business Resources Department (SMBR) invites the public to review and comment on proposed changes to the Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program's Good Faith Efforts requirements at the Sept. 7 meeting of the MBE/WBE and Small Business Advisory Committee.

The proposed changes would affect the way a proposer/bidder solicits Good Faith Efforts to meet MBE/WBE participation goals. The minimum and additional efforts will be under consideration when a bidder/proposer does not meet the MBE/WBE participation goals for a particular project. SMBR will also take into account whether other bidders/respondents have met the goals when reviewing minimum and additional efforts.

The proposed minimum efforts would require bidders to:

• Contact certified vendors using two separate methods of communications to meet the minimum Good Faith Efforts standards (i.e. phone, fax, and email);

• Advertise in local newspapers;

• Use minority trade associations and other community organizations;

• Seek guidance from SMBR if they are having difficulty meeting the goals; and

• Break out portions of work to increase the likelihood the goals will be met.

The proposed additional efforts would also allow consideration of a proposed bidder's efforts to reach certified minority- and women-owned businesses in the immediate areas outside of Austin (the Significant Local Business Presence) including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties.

The advisory board meets at 5:30 p.m. in the Boards and Commissions Room at Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St. The board will consider recommendations from this meeting at its Oct. 5 meeting.

The MBE/WBE Advisory and Council subcommittees will make their recommendations before proposed changes are presented to Council for approval in October.

To view a copy of the proposed changes, check www.cityofaustin.org/smbr. Comment by e-mail at dsmbr@ci.austin.tx.us or call (512) 974-7677.

Public Notice - Proposed TxDOT DBE Goals for Fiscal Year 2011

In accordance with Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 26, recipients of federal-aid funds authorized by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21) are required to establish Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs. Title 49, C.F.R. §26.45 requires the recipients of federal funds, including the Texas Department of Transportation (department), to set overall goals for DBE participation in U. S. Department of Transportation assisted contracts. As part of this goal-setting process, the department is publishing this notice to inform the public of the proposed overall goals, and to provide instructions on how to obtain copies of documents explaining the rationale for each goal.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2011 DBE goals are 12.20% for highway design and construction, 11.70% for aviation design and construction, and 1.57% for public transportation. The proposed goals and goal-setting methodology for each is available for inspection between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, for thirty (30) days following the date of this notice. The information may be viewed in the office of the Texas Department of Transportation, Office of Civil Rights, 200 East Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas 78704. If you prefer to review the electronic version of the methodology us at (512)486-5500 or email Eli Lopez at eli.lopez@txdot.gov.

Office of Civil Rights staff will also be available at a public comment meeting on August 17, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Texas Department of Transportation, Office of Civil Rights, 200 East Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas 78704. Department staff will provide an overview of the goal-setting process and the FY 2011 DBE Goal Methodology. The public is invited to present oral or written comments at the meeting. Oral comments will be limited to two (2) minutes for each person who comments. This comment time may be extended if the number of persons who wish to comment can do so within the time allowed for this meeting.

The department will accept written comments on the DBE goals until 5:00 p.m. on September 15, 2010. Comments may be sent to Eli Lopez, Office of Civil Rights, 125 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701; (512) 486-5511; Fax: (512) 486-5509; email: eli.lopez@txdot.gov.

To read the original notice, visit:
ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/ocr/dbe_goals_0817.pdf

Let us help with your 'GFE'

Since its start in 2005, DBE GoodFaith Inc. has become a leader in disadvantaged business outreach, having helped over 1,110 firms meet contracts' outreach  requirements on more than 6,000 contract bids.

With DBE GoodFaith's intuitive outreach service, disadvantaged businesses (DBEs & HUBs) can be targeted to receive subcontracting and supplier opportunities for your contract. Our system allows users to:

• Place DBE & HUB outreach ads online;

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• Complete initial phone call solicitations with the help of DBE GoodFaith's call center; and

• Automatically document all outreach performed.

For more information on how DBE GoodFaith can help your business, contact a representative at (877) 802-3394 or visit www.dbegoodfaith.com.

DBE GoodFaith Inc. | P.O. Box 521 | Newark, CA 94560
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