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    Home About Doing Business D/M/WBE Programs

D/M/WBE Programs

Supplier diversity is an important part of DART’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. We believe in creating access and opportunity for certified women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, and disadvantaged businesses enterprises.
  • Vendor Management
  • Minority and Women
  • Disadvantaged
  • Outreach
  • Related Documents
  • Resources
  • Memoranda
  • Contact Info
  • FAQs

Vendor Management

The Vendor Management Division is responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of all Disadvantaged, Minority, and Women Business Enterprises (D/M/WBEs) and Outreach Programs. This division develops, manages, and implements processes for ensuring that D/M/WBEs are aware of and educated on the procedures for competing and bidding for purchases and contracts at DART. 

Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program

The primary goal of the agency's Minority and Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program, in existence since 1987, is to promote equality of economic opportunities for Minority and Women-owned businesses and to eliminate barriers to their participation in DART’s publicly funded transit projects.  The M/WBE Program has been developed in accordance with DART's Board Policy and applicable state regulations and is under the supervision of the Assistant Vice President of Vendor Management. DART has established an annual M/WBE goal for FY 2023, at 34% participation.

 

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

DART is committed to carrying out all of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBE”) requirements of 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 26, as amended. It is the policy of DART to ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin in the award and administration of our federally funded contracts. In doing this, our goal is to create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for within DART’s federal procurement efforts. 

DART’s President & CEO is responsible for adherence to this DBE Program and has overall responsibility for directing the development and implementation of this Program. The President and CEO have designated the Assistant Vice President of Vendor Management as the DBE Liaison Officer. The DBE Liaison Officer will be responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the DBE Program.  Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 26, DART established an overall agency DBE participation goal for federally funded contracts at 29% for FFYs 2023-2025.

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Outreach

Outreach is responsible for reaching out to disadvantaged and minority businesses to ensure equitable participation opportunities with DART for minority, women, low-income, and other protected category communities to ensure equity in all of DART’s activities – including contracting, employment, and environmental justice.  This section works consistently with the various ethnic and women business chambers to maintain open communication, awareness, and access to capital. 

Related Documents

DBE Policy

Under the policies of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority (DART) established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program that adheres to DOT regulations. As a condition of receiving Federal funding, DART has signed an assurance that it will comply with the regulations outlined in 49 CFR Part 26. DART's policy ensures that its Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), defined in 49 CFR Part 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-assisted contracts. Know more about the policy by clicking on the links given here. 


Vendor Payment Report

Submission of the Vendor Payment Report is a requirement for all prime contractors who are required to meet any DBE or M/WBE contract goals. This document allows staff to keep a record of payments to subcontractors/subconsultants.  Failure to submit this completed report with invoices to DART may result in the non-approval/payment of invoices and/or contract termination.

Note: The Vendor Report must have an Invoice before submission.

Click on the given link for instructions on “How to Fill Out Vendor Payment Report.”

Additional Resources

DART Board Resources

Beginning August 24, 2021, the DART Board will accept public comments at all meetings. Those who wish to address the Board of Directors can do so in person at the DART Headquarters located at 1401 Pacific Avenue during their Audit, Committee of the Whole, and Board of Directors Meeting sections. For more information, click on learn more.

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Certification Agencies

The Certification Agencies in North Texas hope to give Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women-Owned Business Entities (WBE), and Small Business Entities (SBE) a chance to participate in their purchasing contracting activities.
North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency
Texas Unified Certification Program
DFW Minority Supplier Development Council
Women’s Business Council - Southwest

Memoranda of Understanding

DART and four local chambers of commerce have signed the Memoranda of Understanding, marking a joint commitment to increase minority participation in DART contracts and hiring.

Under the agreement, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas, the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Dallas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will serve as business resources and advocates for greater minority participation at DART.

Vendor Management Contacts

Frequently Asked Questions

In 1999, the Department of Transportation (DOT) mandated that each state implement "one stop shopping," a certification process for DBEs that would eliminate the requirement of having to acquire certifications from multiple jurisdictions if a company wanted to compete for business with more than one entity that received DOT funding in their home state. Six certifying agencies within Texas, each with regional responsibilities, have agreed to perform certifications within Texas. On October 1, 2002, the TUCP will officially begin in Texas. All DBEs will be listed on a state-wide DBE Directory, published by TX DOT (internet) and updated monthly. Any contractor will be able to access the listing, which will include the name of the DBE, contact numbers, NAICS Codes and the regions of the state in which the company is willing to work.

Absolutely not. No contractor is prohibited from bidding on a DART contract.

However, it is DART policy to ensure that DMWBEs have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in its procurement activities.

Any individual who is a citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States and who is:

  • A Woman
  • Black American
  • Hispanic American
  • Native American
  • Asian-Pacific American
  • Subcontinent Asian American

For any additional groups whose members are designated as socially and economically disadvantaged by the SBA at such time, the SBA designation becomes effective.

The NCTRCA performs certification services for interested firms. To be certified, the firm seeking certification has the burden of demonstrating, by a preponderance of evidence, that it meets the requirements of the standards concerning group membership or individual disadvantage, business size, as well as ownership and control of the applicable business.

A bidder is required to make "good faith efforts" when the firm determines that it can't meet the stated DMWBE goal. The types of actions considered as part of a bidder's "good faith efforts" include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Adequate solicitation of minority subcontractors through all reasonable and available means, with sufficient time for subcontractors to respond
  • Selecting portions of the work to be performed in order to increase the likelihood that the goals will be achieved
  • Providing interested potential subcontractors with adequate information about the plans, specifications and requirements of the contract in a timely manner
  • Not rejecting potential subcontractors as unqualified without sound reasons based on a thorough investigation of their capabilities

The Vendor Management Division establishes contract-specific goals based, to a great extent, on the availability of the DMWBEs that can perform the different types of work (NAICS codes) listed on the Statement of Work. Vendor Management also considers any specific areas that may be highly specialized or sole source materials that may not be conducive to subcontracting. This process ensures that contract-specific goals are realistic and attainable. It should also be noted that a contract goal is not mandatory and could be waived, in part or whole, if the contractor can demonstrate they acted in Good Faith to meet an established goal. The Assistant Vice President of Vendor Management determines the legitimacy of a "Good Faith Effort" submission.

The NCTRCA (North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency) is the agency DART utilizes to provide certification and other related services for prospective DMWBEs. It was formally incorporated in 1992 to provide more efficient regional DMWBE certification. Currently serving 17 member entities, DART is one of the original members of the NCTRCA. All DMWBE certifications are conducted for DART by the NCTRCA.

DART receives federal as well as local funding, therefore it is necessary to have both DBE goals (federally funded projects) and MWBE goals (locally funded projects), since a MWBE would not necessarily be qualified to compete as a DBE (see definitions above).

A Minority or Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) is a for-profit, small business concern, that has either been certified by the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRCA), or whose certification by another certification agency is recognized by the NCTRCA. Additionally, the firm must be at least 51% owned, controlled and directed by one or more individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged, or in the case of a corporation, 51% of the stock must be owned by one or more such individuals, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged owners.

A Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) is a for-profit, small businesses concern that meets all of the above-mentioned criteria, and whose owner's or owners' individual net worth is not more than $1.32 million, and whose average gross receipts have not exceeded $22.51 million for the past three fiscal years.

The DMWBE Program has been developed in accordance with DART Board Policy and applicable federal and state regulations. As a grant recipient of federal funds, DART's DBE Program fully complies with United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

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