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Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Labor Compliance Programs

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

Metrolink administers a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program in accordance with 49 CFR Part 26: Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Programs, as a condition of financial assistance from the DOT.


Metrolink received DOT/Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Metrolink Board approval to reinstate race-conscious DBE Program elements, including contract-specific DBE goals, on Metrolink’s FTA-assisted procurements. Metrolink uses both race-conscious and race-neutral measures to meet its 14% overall DBE goal for the three Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2024. Metrolink will meet 5% of the goal through the use of race-neutral measures and the remaining 9% will be met through the use of race-conscious measures. For procurements with an established DBE goal, prime bidders/proposers must demonstrate their commitment to meet the goal, or submit a Good Faith Effort (GFE), to be deemed responsive to DBE Program requirements.


To receive DBE credit on a Metrolink contract, firms must obtain their DBE certification from a California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) certifying member agency and be certified in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to the contract scope of work.
 

Comments on Metrolink’s DBE Program can be submitted by mail or email: 

Southern California Regional Rail Authority 
 Attention: Lorraine E. Aldridge
900 Wilshire Boulevard 
Suite 1500 
Los Angeles, CA 90017 
Or 
 [email protected]  

 

DBE Resources

California Unified Certification Program

To obtain information about the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP), please visit the following websites: 

Office of Civil Rights

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is dedicated to increasing the participation of Small Business, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise firms in both Federal and State contracting and procurement. To access their multitude of resources, click here.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services (DBE/SS)

Caltrans has developed a DBE Supportive Services program with the primary purpose of providing training, assistance, and services to certified DBEs. The goal of the DBE Supportive Services program is to increase the activity of certified DBEs in the program. To access your region's supportive services, click here.

On The Job Training Supportive Services (OJT/SS)

Caltrans’ OJT/SS Program provides pre-apprenticeship training to increase the participation of women, minorities, and other disadvantaged individuals in skilled and semi-skilled crafts on federal-assisted contracts.  Any Disadvantaged Business Enterprise can contact the regional provider for their district to receive DBE Supportive Services. To find your regional provider, please click here.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

To develop and improve immediate and long-term business management, record keeping, and financial and accounting capability, the Metrolink encourages DBEs and other small businesses to visit the Small Business Administration’s resources webpage, specifically tailored to be responsive to small business needs.

The Southwest Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC)

The Southwest SBTRC serves the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada. It is their mission to grow and empower small business concerns throughout the region through Access, Education, and Opportunity. Through its programs and services, Southwest SBTRC provides local businesses with the resources and tools necessary for success and connects them to opportunities to grow their business.

The Southwest SBTRC provides an array of technical assistance to build the capacity of small and disadvantaged businesses that include:

  • Business Analyses

  • Market Research and Procurement Assistance

  • General Management & Technical Assistance

  • Business Counseling & Coaching

  • Regional Planning Committees

  • Liaison between Prime Contractors and Sub-Contractors

  • Outreach/Conference Participation

  • Capital Access and Surety Bond Assistance

  • Women & Girls In Transportation Initiative (WITI)

To access more information, please visit Southwest SBTRC’s website.

Disadvantaged Business Bonding Assistance

Metrolink recognizes that a firm’s ability to obtain performance and payment bonds can pose a significant barrier to their ability to win public sector contracts and for those firms that are able to obtain bonds, being able to bond adequately may also often pose a barrier to working on public contracts.

The Caltrans/SBA Bonding Assistance Initiative is valuable resource available to you. This initiative offers a technical assistance surety bond guarantee program to promote increased small business participation in Caltrans, State highway and transit projects.

This initiative provides a viable means to advance the unimpeded participation of all willing, ready, and able construction contractors and subcontractors, professional architectural and engineering firms, suppliers and truckers, without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or physical disability to participate in the State’s Contracting Program.

SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program helps eligible small businesses obtain bid, performance and payment bonds by guaranteeing surety companies between 70% and 90% of the bond amount.

SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program contains two components: Prior Approval Program and Preferred Program. For more information, please visit their website.

You may also contact or visit your nearest SBA office listed below:

 

     Los Angeles District Office

        312 N. Spring St.

        Los Angeles, CA 90012

        Phone: (213) 634-3855

    

 Useful Links for Metrolink’s DBE Program

  • PDF DownloadClick here to view Metrolink's DBE Program Manual
  • PDF DownloadClick here to view the race-conscious approval letter received from the FTA
  • Click here for more information about NAICS codes
  • Click here if you are not DBE certified but believe that you may be eligible, to download an application form and obtain information regarding where to send your DBE application
  • Click here if you are a prime bidder/proposer seeking CUCP-certified DBEs for Metrolink teaming opportunities, to access the CUCP online DBE directory

Labor Compliance Program

Metrolink administers its Labor Compliance Program (LCP) pursuant to prevailing wage and other labor compliance requirements applicable to State and federally-assisted public works contracts. Metrolink’s LCP also complies with the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) labor compliance requirements, which apply to State bond-assisted and design-build public works contracts.

In compliance with Senate Bill 854, all contractors must be registered with the State of California, Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) contractor registration database, at the time of bid, at the time of award and throughout the life of a SCRRA public works contract.  Please click here to visit the DIR Contractor Registration website.  

Useful Links for Metrolink’s Labor Compliance Program

  • PDF DownloadClick here to view a copy of Metrolink's LCP approval letter from the DIR
  • Click here to visit the California Department of Industrial Relations website
  • Click here to visit the California Department of Apprenticeship Standards website
  • Click here to visit the California Prevailing Wage Determinations website
  • Click here to visit the U.S. Department Labor, Wage and House Division, website
  • Click here to visit the Federal Prevailing Wage Determination website

Labor Compliance Forms