November 2022 - 28
GCRTA's five areas of
concentration for a robust
DBE program
T
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's
approach to promoting and supporting DBE firms
has resulted in an increase in the number of qualified
DBEs, as well as expanded areas of expertise.
By Kay Sutula, Carl Kirkland, contributors
here are many alarming stories
about Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise (DBE) firms, also
known as sub-contractors, and
prime contracts where the DBEs
were not getting paid, being underpaid
and prime contractors
not performing or failing to submit
proper documentation. The Office
of Business Development (OBD)
at the Greater Cleveland Regional
Transit Authority (GCRTA) wanted
to take a different approach to
increase the number of qualified
DBEs, expand the areas of expertise
and help them be successful
sub-contractors.
To do this, OBD focuses on five
areas of concentration:
* Certification, eligibility and
compliance
* Contract compliance and
monitoring
* Goal setting
* Outreach
* Small business participation plan
Certification, Eligibility
and Compliance
Once a DBE firm completes the
Ohio Department of Transportation
(ODOT) Uniform Certification
Application submission
form, and the DBE eligibility is
reviewed, the Office of Business
Development receives the information
and plans an on-site
visit. This on-site visit is conducted
with the owners of the
firm and completes a desk audit,
including products, equipment
and any machinery depending
upon the type of expertise. OBD
will also perform an on-site vis28
| Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | NOVEMBER 2022
itswith current DBEs, building a
good relationship with the firm
and checking to see if they have
expanded their expertise. While
most of the application process
is within ODOT, OBD staff at
the authority will contact other
DBE firms to provide support.
This support includes education
about the entire program including
ownership, eligibility and the
authority's process. GCRTA's process
includes contract opportunities,
procurement and engineering
processes.
Contract Compliance
and Monitoring
Once a DBE is selected for a procurement,
OBD will work closely
with the project manager to
monitor the compliance of the
prime contractor. OBD staff will
travel to a job site, unannounced,
at least two times per week. They
will count the number of workers
on the job site, compare this to the
project schedule log, ask workers
for a paystub or proof of income
and ask the foreman for the workforce
utilization. The OBD staff
will review the prevailing wage
http://www.MassTransitmag.com
November 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2022
Editor’s Notebook
People & Places
Best Practices: Data Management
Best Practices for Cybersecurity
2022 Transit Safety & Security Report
GCRTA’s five areas of concentration for a robust DBE program
Mixed Fleets: The future of microtransit and paratransit
Beyond Carbon Reduction: Electric Buses Provide Resilience for Climate Emergencies
Products
November 2022 - 1
November 2022 - 2
November 2022 - 3
November 2022 - 4
November 2022 - 5
November 2022 - Editor’s Notebook
November 2022 - 7
November 2022 - People & Places
November 2022 - 9
November 2022 - 10
November 2022 - 11
November 2022 - 12
November 2022 - 13
November 2022 - Best Practices: Data Management
November 2022 - 15
November 2022 - Best Practices for Cybersecurity
November 2022 - 17
November 2022 - 18
November 2022 - 19
November 2022 - 20
November 2022 - 21
November 2022 - 2022 Transit Safety & Security Report
November 2022 - 23
November 2022 - 24
November 2022 - 25
November 2022 - 26
November 2022 - 27
November 2022 - GCRTA’s five areas of concentration for a robust DBE program
November 2022 - 29
November 2022 - 30
November 2022 - 31
November 2022 - Mixed Fleets: The future of microtransit and paratransit
November 2022 - 33
November 2022 - 34
November 2022 - 35
November 2022 - Beyond Carbon Reduction: Electric Buses Provide Resilience for Climate Emergencies
November 2022 - 37
November 2022 - 38
November 2022 - 39
November 2022 - Products
November 2022 - 41
November 2022 - 42
November 2022 - 43
November 2022 - 44
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