Comments about two Federal Register notices issued by the Department of Transportation’s DBE programs are due by July 7.
The first notice says the DOT is proposing that any recipient of financial assistant under Part 26 submit overall goals for approval every three years instead of annually. Currently, recipients are required to provide these goals for review every year on Aug. 1. In 2005, the DOT’s ACDBE regulation established a staggered three-year schedule to better manage the work load for the FAA and airports. The DOT is suggesting a similar system for Part 26 DBE goals, arranging the schedule so an airport would not have to submit a part 23 and Part 26 goal in the same year. More information can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-7904.pdf.
The second notice addresses improvements to the DBE program, which lists six issues that may require alteration to the DBE rules: counting of DBE credit for items obtained by DBE subcontractors from other sources; “unbundling;” changes to the DBE application and personal net worth forms; improving program oversight; easing burdens on firms seeking DBE certification in more than one state; and limiting the discretion of prime contractors to terminate DBEs for convenience after the prime contractor has committed to using the DBE as part of its showing good faith efforts. More information can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-7903.pdf.
