Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

Metro is committed to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) involvement in transit projects and purchasing.

We welcome the opportunity to work with all businesses, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women's Business Enterprises (WBE), Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBE) and Small Business Enterprises (SBE).

For information on doing business with Metro or for information concerning Metro's DBE program, contact:
Metro/Diversity & Inclusion
1401 Bank St, 2nd Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45214-1782
513-632-7614

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation, DBE regulations, 49 CFR Part 26, it is Metro's policy to utilize ready, willing, and able disadvantaged and small businesses and to use the best efforts possible to level the playing field in the market place by ensuring these firms have the opportunity to participate in the procurement process. Metro has established race-conscious and race-neutral initiatives in the DBE annual and contract specific goals to provide opportunities in all procurement activities.

DBE* firms must be certified by the Ohio Department of Transportation Unified Certification Program (UCP), the City of Cincinnati Equal Business Opportunity Commission Office, or the Ohio Department of Administrative Services at the time of bid submission. Metro reserves the right to accept or reject a firm’s certification from other agencies on a case-by-case basis. In making this determination Metro will evaluate whether the certification was conducted under the standards of the certifying agency.

View Metro's DBE Program Policy Statement here.


DBE GUIDELINE LINKS:
• Ohio Department of Transportation - www.ohioucp.org
• US Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization - www.osdbu.dot.gov
• Federal Transit Administration – www.fta.dot.gov
• US Department of Labor, Davis-Bacon Information – www.dol.gov/esa/programs/dbra/index.htm
• Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations - www.gpo.gov/davisbacon

PUBLIC NOTICE:

This notice is to inform interested parties that the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is proposing a “Disadvantage Business Enterprise” (DBE) Participation Goal of 7.22% for Federal Fiscal Years 2021, 2022, 2023 for projects funded, in part, by federal funds.  These projects involve SORTA’s construction projects and security-related goods and services.

The percentage goal was established based on the work tasks, percentage of minority population in Hamilton County, Ohio, historical DBE percentages in Ohio Department of Transportation Region 8,  based on the 2015-2016 Ohio Public Authorities Disparity Study commissioned by (ODOT,) the City of Cincinnati’s Disparity Study (2015), past DBE County contracting experience and a DBE directory file.  This notice also is to inform that the DBE Goal of 7.22% will commence in the FFY 2021 and through the FFY 2023.

If you wish to comment on the proposed goal and its rationale, both may be inspected during normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday at the address listed below.  Comments will be accepted on the goal and rationale for 30 days from the date of this notice.  Comments may be sent to the address below:

Ms. Tara Walker, DBE Administrator

Southwest Ohio Regional Transportation Authority

1401-B Bank Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45214-1782

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

In an effort to comply with Federal Regulations 49 CFR Part 26, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is proposing a new Triennial DBE goal for Federal Fiscal Years 2021-2023. SORTA is required under part 26.45 to consult with identified stakeholders. As a recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding, SORTA is required to comply and is committed to fulfilling its goals under this program.

The DBE Administrator for SORTA is responsible for administering SORTA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. The program is designed to help ensure DBE firms have a level playing field and equal opportunity to participate in SORTA's contract opportunities.SORTA works to promote and encourage the inclusion of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in SORTA’s procurements.

As a part of our community and/or stakeholder, we would like to invite you to consult with us and give feedback prior to finalization of our triennial goal. In light of COVID-19, the Federal Transit Administration has encouraged virtual consultation to maintain social distancing recommendations. SORTA will be hosting virtual webinars on multiple dates. Please follow the following links listed here to the webinar and teleconference: CLICK HERE

Diversity and Inclusion Software Training Video

Business Enterprise Eligibility Form
Information for Determining Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprise

My firm is a:

Minority Business Enterprise

51% owned, operated and controlled on a daily basis by one or more (in combination) American citizens of the following ethnic minority classifications: African American, Asian American (includes West American (India etc.) and East Asian American (Japan, Korea, etc.), Hispanic American-not of the Iberian peninsula and Native American including Aleuts.

Women Business Enterprise

51% owned, operated and controlled on a daily basis by women or a non-profit with at least 51% of the board of director being women. The women business owner must hold the highest officer position in the company.

Disability-Owned Business Enterprise

Be at least 51 percent owned, operated, managed, and controlled by individuals with a disability (based on the Americans with Disability Act of 1990) or servicedisabled veterans who are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents

Small Business Enterprise Section 8(a)

A firm for which the gross revenue or number of employees averaged over the past three years, inclusive of any affiliates as defined by 13 C.F.R. Sec. 121.103, does not exceed the size standards as defined pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section632 and 13 C.F.R. Section 121.101, et. seq. and for which the personal net worth of each owner does not exceed $750,000.

Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Certified DBE StateChoose StateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Date Certified12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember 1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026202720282029203020312032

DBEs are for-profit small business concerns where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest and also control management and daily business operations. African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific and Subcontinent Asian Americans, and women are presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged. Other individuals can also qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis. To participate in the DBE program, a small business owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals must receive DBE certification from the relevant state– generally through the state Uniform Certification Program (UCP).

NAICS Codes

Top 3 Primary Business Codes

Primary Business Code 1*

Primary Business Code 2*

Primary Business Code 3*

Tax ID Number*

Name of Firm*

Address of Firm*

City*

State*Select OneAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Zip Code*

Telephone*

Fax

Email*

Website

Primary Contact Person*

Title of Primary Contact*

Ownership of Firm - Indicate one of the following:

Sole Proprietorship

Date Established12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember 201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026202720282029203020312032

Partnership

Date of Agreement12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember 201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026202720282029203020312032

Corporation

Date of Incorporation12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember 201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026202720282029203020312032

State of IncorporationSelect OneAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Other Business Entity (please specify)

Nature of Firm's Business

Identify those persons who have 5% or more of the firm's ownership. Ownership Percentage and Voting Percentage should be completed only if ownership is less than 100% minority or female.

Owner 1 - Name*

Owner 1 - Ethnic Status*

Owner 1 - Years Owned*

Owner 1 - Owner Percentage

Owner 1 - Voting Percentage

Owner 2 - Name

Owner 2 - Ethnic Status

Owner 2 - Years Owned

Owner 2 - Owner Percentage

Owner 2 - Voting Percentage

Owner 3 - Name

Owner 3 - Ethnic Status

Owner 3 - Years Owned

Owner 3 - Owner Percentage

Owner 3 - Voting Percentage

Owner 4 - Name

Owner 4 - Ethnic Status

Owner 4 - Years Owned

Owner 4 - Owner Percentage

Owner 4 - Owner Voting Percentage

Owner 5 - Name

Owner 5 - Ethnic Status

Owner 5 - Years Owned

Owner 5 - Owner Percentage

Owner 5 - Voting Percentage

What were the gross receipts of the Firm for each of the last two years?

First Previous Year Ending*

First Previous Year Ending Gross Sales*

Second Previous Year*

Second Previous Year Ending Gross Sales*

Name of Bonding Company, if any