Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

Policy Statement

    It is the policy of the Orange County Transportation Authority to utilize Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) in all federal procurement activities. To this end, the Authority has adopted a race neutral DBE Program that constitutes the Authority's policy and commitment to promote Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

Objectives of the DBE Program

    The Authority makes a good faith effort to increase the participation in bidding of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses whenever possible in these ways:

    1. Identify firms owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are qualified to provide the Authority with required goods, materials, supplies and services.
    2. Develop and implement information and communication programs and procedures geared to acquaint prospective DBE businesses with the Authority's contracting and procurement procedures and requirements.
    3. Develop the necessary interdepartmental relationships within the Authority that will facilitate implementation of the DBE Program.

DBE Qualification Information

    To obtain a DBE Certification Application, click here to download the "DBE CALIFORNIA UNIFIED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (CUCP) APPLICATION,"  contact the Authority's DBE Program Department at (714) 560-5613 or come in person to pick up the application and other pertinent DBE Certification information at the Authority's office, 550 South Main Street, Orange, CA.

    If your company ownership falls into any of the categories shown in section 1 and also meets the requirements in sections 2 and 3, you are encouraged to apply for DBE certification.

    1. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) is a business owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s). For the purpose of this definition, DBE means an individual who is:

      Black American Hispanic American
      Asian-Pacific American Native American
      Subcontinent Indian American Woman
      Other
      -Economically Disadvantaged
      -Socially Disadvantaged

      Economically Disadvantaged Individual is one whose ability to compete in free enterprises has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities, compared to others in the same line of business and competitive market area who are not socially disadvantaged.

      Socially Disadvantaged Individual is considered socially disadvantaged because of his/her color, origin, gender, physical handicap, long-term residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society, or other similar cause beyond the individual. s control.

    2. A Small Business concern means a small business as defined pursuant to Section 3 of the Small Business Act and relevant regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, 13 CFR, Part 121, Final Rule.
       
    3. Owned and Controlled is a business which is: (1) a sole proprietorship legitimately owned by an individual(s) who is socially and economically disadvantaged; (2) a partnership or joint venture controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s) and in which at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the beneficial ownership interests legitimately are held by socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s); or (3) a corporation or other entity controlled by socially disadvantaged individual(s), and in which at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the beneficial ownership interests legitimately are held by socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s).