Overview

Welcome to the Diversity & Economic Opportunity Department (DEOD) of Metro (Metro). Commitment: Metro is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to servicing its small business community through proactive and inclusive monitoring, mentoring, training and outreach activity. DEOD is responsible for ensuring non-discrimination in Metro contracting and employment practices.

Metro sets the S/D/M/WBE program in motion pursuant to state and federal laws so that no firm would be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, age, or disability. The Contract Compliance Unit is responsible for ensuring that a fair share of all contracted work with subcontracting opportunities is achieved with appropriate S/D/M/WBEs.

To this end, the Contract Compliance Unit establishes goals on applicable projects awarded by the Metro, reviews bids/proposals and responses, recommends awards and monitors projects for appropriate S/D/M/WBE participation. Contract Compliance works closely with Procurement Department on all relevant contracts, works to maximize opportunities, and ensure fair and equitable treatment to S/D/M/WBE’s who participate in the performance of Metro contracts.

Factors considered in determining a contract goal that bidders/proposers should achieve include: S/D/M/WBE availability, subcontracting opportunities, and historical data from similar procurements. In the case where the goal /requirement has not been met, a good faith effort (GFE) requirement must be satisfied.

• Establish Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals for federally-funded contracts, Small Business Enterprise (SBE) goals for state and/or locally funded negotiated contracts, and Minority and Women (M/WBE) Voluntary Anticipated Levels of Participation (VALP) for state and/or locally funded non-negotiable contracts.

• Monitor, assess, and report compliance with DBE/SBE program requirements throughout the life of the contract.

• Ensure prompt payment to all S/D/M/WBE subcontractors participating in contracts financed with public funds.

10 Steps to Doing Business with Metro

All small businesses interested in doing business with Metro should be familiar with the “10 Steps to Doing Business with Metro”:

1. Attend a Small Business Orientation and Certification Workshop

Metro hosts a two-hour orientation/workshop on the second Tuesday of each month to advise firms on how to do business with Metro and the different small business certification programs that are offered by the agency. During the orientation, firms are provided a one-on-one interview with a Procurement Officer.

For additional information and reservations, contact the DEOD Hotline at 213.922.2600 and press 4.

2. Register in the Metro Vendor Database

Small businesses interested in receiving upcoming contract notifications should register in Metro’s Vendor Database. Firms can complete a Vendor Information Profile online at www.metro.net.

3. Apply for Small Business Certification

Metro’s Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department (DEOD) seeks to provide small businesses with a level playing field in all aspects of the procurement and administration of Metro contracts. Metro actively supports and encourages the participation of eligible small businesses under the following small business certification programs:

1. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
2. Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
3. Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
4. Women Business Enterprise (WBE)

4. Apply for the Metro Pre-Qualification Program

(All firms who wish to compete for contracts of $100,000 or more.) California Public Utilities Code Section 130051.21 mandates that all firms seeking to do business with Metro complete a pre-qualification questionnaire prior to doing business with Metro. The questionnaire requires firms to disclose information relative to their background, experience, financial status and general business integrity. Please contact the Pre-Qualification Program at 213.922.4130 or e-mail pre-qual@metro.net.

5. Contact Buyer or Contract Administrator

Metro’s Buyers and Contract Administrators are the best source of information for vendors interested in pursuing Metro contracts. Contact Metro’s DEOD Small Business Outreach Unit for a current Procurement & Materials Management Directory at 213.922.2600 and press 4.

6. Monitor Metro.net, Ebidboard.com, and Tansportmax.com

Log on to these websites to learn more about Metro’s current and upcoming contracts.

7. Attend Pre-Bid Meetings for Projects of Interest

Pre-bid meetings provide an opportunity to learn more about the contract specifications, meet the Buyer/Contract Administrator, and network with primes and sub contractors interested in the same contract.

8. Contact Potential Prime Contractors

Metro encourages prime contractors to team with certified small businesses. Prime contractors are listed on the project plan holder’s list and should be contacted for partnering or subcontracting opportunities.

9. Submit competitive bids and quotes to Metro or Prime Contractors

Competitive bids and quotes are important to primes and ultimately Metro. Submit your best pricing for potential contracts.

10. Attend the Transportation Business Advisory Council (TBAC) Monthly Meeting

TBAC is Metro’s small business advocate. Current Metro information is disseminated at each TBAC meeting, informing small businesses about upcoming contracts, small business legislative updates and topics on small business economic development.

TBAC monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at Metro Headquarters, One Gateway Plaza, Gateway Conference Room, 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. For future meeting notifications, please contact the DEOD Hotline at 213.922.2600 and press 4

Meetings

Metro is committed to servicing the small business community. Those interested in working with Metro are encouraged to attend one of our Business Outreach events below. 

To register for an upcoming event, please click on the corresponding link. 

How to Do Business with Metro

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
9:30am-12:00pm
Metro Headquarters
3rd Floor Board Room
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Click here to register

Meet the Buyers

Friday, June 21, 2013
Registration: 8am – 11:45am 
Event time: 9am – 12pm 
Metro Headquarters, Plaza Level & 3rd Floor
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Click here to register.

View Past Meetings

Third Party Networking Events

Chinese American Construction Professionals
Advisory Board Meeting

Friday, May 17, 2013
9am – 11am
Southern California Edison
General Office #3, 2nd Floor
2131 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, CA 91770

RSVP by Friday, May 10th to CACP at cacpcacp@yahoo.com. 

The Mayor's Office of Contractor Relations and the Office of Small Business
Strategic Matchmaking Event for Opportunities in Construction and Related Professional Services

Thursday, May 23, 2013
Registration: 9am
Program Begins: 9:30am
Appointments: 1pm
Expo Center – Roy A. Anderson Recreation Center
3980 Bill Robertson Lane
Los Angeles, CA 90037

Click here for more information.

Small Business Development Conference & Expo

Thursday, May 30, 2013
7:30am – 12:30pm
USC Health Sciences Campus
1969 Zonal Av
Los Angeles, CA 90033

Click here for more information.

View Past Meetings

FAQ

1. Why is a goal set on a project?
2. What is the difference between the annual goal and a contract goal?
3. Why are there different kinds of goals?
4. What is the purpose of a pre-bid conference?
5. What are some of the ways that proposers can meet the established goal?
6. What happens when proposers fail to meet the established goal?
7. What is GFE?
8. What is Form 103?
9. What is a Race Neutral DBE Program?
10. What are the main differences between a Race Neutral and a Race Conscious DBE program?
11. Does the change from a race conscious DBE Program to a Race Neutral DBE Program affect existing contracts?
12. What types of contracts does the new race neutral DBE Program apply to?

1. Why is a goal set on a project?

Contract Compliance reviews Metro procurements to determine S/D/M/WBE participation goals if applicable. The Contract Compliance Unit will establish contract goals only on those contracts with identifiable subcontracting opportunities to ensure small businesses have an equal opportunity to participate in Metro procurements.

2. What is the difference between the annual goal and a contract goal?

Contract goals are established so that, over the period to which the overall goal applies, they will cumulatively result in meeting any portion of our overall goal that is not projected to be met through the race-neutral means.

3. Why are there different kinds of goals?

For those contracts with identifiable subcontracting opportunities, an analysis is conducted by Contract Compliance staff, in conjunction with a Contract Administrator and Project Manager from the Procurement Department, to determine an S/D/M/WBE goal for a contract. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals are established on Federally funded contracts. Small Business Enterprise (SBE) goals are established on state and/or locally funded contracts.

4. What is the purpose of a pre-bid conference?

A: If there are DBE/SBE goal requirements on a contract, Contract Compliance staff will advise prospective bidders/proposers of goal requirements for the procurement. Attendance at the pre-bid or pre-proposal conference is optional, however, it does provide evidence of the contractor's "Good Faith" efforts. Attendees MUST SIGN-IN to receive credit for attending any pre-bid or pre-proposal conference.

5. What are some of the ways that proposers can meet the established goal?

Proposers are required to meet the established goal contracting with DBE/SBE entities to meet goals by performing the work as a DBE/SBE prime or subcontract with DBE/SBE firms. Proposers can meet the established contract anticipation goal by contracting with bona-fide DBE/SBE contractors or firms; or by using DBE/SBE suppliers or services providers in the submitted proposal or bid.

6. What happens when proposers fail to meet the established goal?

Should the proposers fail to meet the establish DBE/SBE contract goal, the proposer must document good faith efforts.

7. What is GFE?

To determine whether a proposer who failed to meet the established contract goal may be further considered for contract award, Metro must determine whether the efforts taken to obtain DBE/SBE participation satisfy the good faith efforts (GFE) requirements.

8. What is Form 103?

A form 103 provides award, contract amendments, payments made, participation and other contract information necessary to monitor the status of contracts. Business Enterprise Subcontractors Paid Report is also known as Form 103. Information reported on Form 103 is compiled to fulfill federal reporting requirements. Prime contractors prepare and submit Form 103 via U.S. Mail, fax, or e-mail to the Contract Compliance Unit by the 15th of each month to report their progress on DBE/SBE utilization. Click here for a Sample Regular Form 103.

9. What is a Race Neutral DBE Program?

Pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 26.5, a race neutral measure or program is one that is used to assist all small businesses.  Race neutral measures focus on developing the business practices of all small businesses.

10. What are the main differences between a Race Neutral and a Race Conscious DBE program?

Federal regulations require that a recipient of federal highway and transit funds implement an approved DBE program that consists of establishing a statewide DBE utilization goal and using race-neutral means to achieve the goal to the maximum extent possible.

Where race-neutral measures prove inadequate to achieve the goal, states are required to use race-conscious measures, such as DBE participation goals for individual contracts. Like many State Transportation Agencies (STA), the Department and its sub recipients (local agencies) have employed race-conscious measures consisting of DBE contract participation goals established on individual contracts.

The use of race conscious DBE participation goals on individual contracts meant that where an apparent low bidder failed to meet the goal or to demonstrate “good faith efforts” to do so, its bid was deemed non-responsive and its bid was rejected.

In contrast, under a race neutral DBE program, none of the Department’s Federal Aid contracts will include DBE participation goal. The Department will continue, however to establish an overall Statewide DBE goal and will continue to semi-annually and annually report to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on DBE participation.

11. Does the change from a race conscious DBE Program to a Race Neutral DBE Program affect existing contracts?

Changing from a race conscious to a race neutral DBE program does not have retroactive application, so contracts executed and approved prior to the effective date of May 1, 2006, with race conscious DBE contract participation goals are not affected by the new race neutral DBE program.

In terms of contract monitoring, those prime contractors or prime consultants that were awarded contracts with race conscious DBE participation goals would still be required to meet those goals during performance of the contact. The request for DBE substitution process would also remain for the term of those contracts.

12. What types of contracts does the new race neutral DBE Program apply to?

The race neutral DBE Program applies to any contract awarded by the Department and Local Agencies with federal funding. These are commonly known throughout the Department as Federal aid projects or contracts or US DOT assisted projects or contracts.

It is important to note that the race neutral DBE program has absolutely no impact on wholly state-funded contracts awarded by the Department, nor does it impact other State of California legislatively enacted preference programs like the Small Business Preference, the Recycled Paper Preference, the Target Area Contract Preference Act, etc. It also does not affect wholly State funded contracts with Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) contract participation goals.

The race neutral DBE Program also has no impact on any wholly local agency funded contracts awarded by the Department or local agencies.

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