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 8.5% for Federal Fiscal Years 2024, 2025, 2026 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 disadvantaged business population in Ohio, historical DBE percentages, The City of Cincinnati’s Disparity Study, ODOT’s Availability Study and Hamilton County’s disparity study, past DBE County contracting experience and ODOT’s DBE directory.  This notice also is to inform that the DBE Goal of 8.5% will commence in the FFY 2024 and through the FFY 2026.

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, or, electronically via email.  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, Vendor Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager

Southwest Ohio Regional Transportation Authority

1401-B Bank Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45214-1782

Twalker@go-metro.com


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, we would like to invite you to consult with us and give feedback prior to finalization of our 2023 DBE Goal Methodology.  SORTA will be holding virtual webinars and in-person meetings for comment on the proposed goal.  Meetings will be held on the following dates/times:


June 26th, 2023 at 10:00am

Virtual Meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 277 581 202 745 

 Passcode: PxbxCt 

June 28th, 2023 at 2:00pm

Virtual Meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 218 920 119 123
Passcode: 3s6Jpg

June 30th, 2023 at 12pm

Walnut Hills Branch Library

2533 Kemper Ln.

Cincinnati, Ohio 45206

July 19th, 2023 at 5pm

Walnut Hills Branch Library

2533 Kemper Ln.

Cincinnati, Ohio 45206

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 contracting.

Notice of Public Hearing Document
Diversity and Inclusion Software Training Video



Business Enterprise Eligibility Form
Information for Determining Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprise
My firm is a:
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Ownership of Firm - Indicate one of the following:
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.
What were the gross receipts of the Firm for each of the last two years?


Proposal Writing Basics