DBE

Thirty-Day Public Comment Period on Proposed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Goal (Federal Fiscal Years 2025-2027)

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with U.S. DOT regulation 49 CFR Part 26, the Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) has established a DBE Program for disadvantaged business participation in the federal-assisted contracts.

For FFY 2025-2027 (October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027), FAST has established a DBE participation goal of 1.42% to be achieved through race-neutral means.

Interested parties may view FAST’s DBE goal setting methodology for the next 30 days during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) at the FAST Transit Center located at 505 Frankin Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301. Appointments may be scheduled by telephone at (910) 433-1288 during normal business hours. The goal setting methodology is also available for viewing on the FAST website: DBE | Fayetteville, NC (fayettevillenc.gov).

The public comment period will be complete on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Adjustments to the goal will be addressed, if necessary, based on public comment. The goal will be submitted for approval to the FTA on or before September 6, 2024. The final goal will be published to the FAST website at the above referenced link no later than September 15, 2024.

Written comments should be addressed to: Shaqwana Portalis, FAST, Civil Rights Office, 505 Franklin Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301 or by e-mail at ShaqwanaPortalis@FayettevilleNC.gov on or before Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

Original Public Notice can be viewed here: FAST Goal Public Notice - 30-Day Public Comment Period

Spanish version of Public Notice can be viewed here: (Spanish) FAST Goal Public Notice - 30-Day Public Comment Period

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise-Procurement Opportunities

DBE Program Policy Statement
The City of Fayetteville shall not discriminate in any manner on the basis of race,
color, sex or national origin, and shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that certified
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE's) have the maximum opportunity to
participate in the performance of contracts financed, in whole or in part, with financial
assistance from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), acting through
such agencies as the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA). FAST shall implement this DBE Program in accordance
with Part 26 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations entitled "Participation by
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Programs."

The objectives of Fayetteville Area System of Transit's DBE Program are:

• To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts;
• To ensure that the DBE program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws;
• To ensure that only firms fully meeting the eligibility requirements of the DBE program  are permitted to participate;
• To help create a level playing field on which DBE's can fairly compete for DOT-assisted contracts;
• To help remove barriers to the participation of DBE's in DOT-assisted contracts;
• To help and assist in the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside of the DBE program; and
• To provide appropriate flexibility to establish and provide DBE's opportunities to participate in DOT-assisted contracts in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Federal Fiscal Year 2022-2024 DBE Goal

The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) has adopted a (2.72%) DBE goal for Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2022-2024 beginning on October 1, 2021, and ending on September 30, 2024. FAST plans to achieve this goal through (1.47%) race-conscious measures and (1.25%) race-neutral measures.

Contact

All questions and/or comments about FASTs' DBE Program and persons or firms interested in becoming certified as a DBE should contact Shaqwana Portalis, Business Manager/DBELO at (910) 433-1692 or by email, shaqwanaportalis@fayettevillenc.gov. 

The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) serves as the certifying agency for all DBE's seeking work on Fayetteville Area System of Transit contracts. The NCDOT Unified Certification Program, (UCP) is a "one-stop shopping" certification procedure that will eliminate the need for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms to obtain certification from multiple agencies within the state. The firm can now apply one time with the NCDOT, and if approved, that certification is shared by all other federal recipients in the state, including Fayetteville Area System of Transit. Firms must apply for certification as a DBE to NCDOT by completing the UCP application located on the NCDOT Web site. Detailed instructions on how to become certified as a DBE under the UCP are listed on the site. The NCDOT maintains a unified DBE directory that will contain all firms certified by the UCP, the information required by 49 CFR Part 26.31, and make it available to the public electronically, on the internet as well as in print.

Access the NCDOT website to apply for certification as a DBE.

It is the policy of FAST to purchase the highest quality of goods and services at the best possible price. In so doing, FAST will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex in the award and performance of any federally assisted contractor in the administration of FAST's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program or the requirements of the 49 CFR Part 26.

FAST will take every necessary and reasonable steps under 49 CFR Part 26 to ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of federally assisted contracts.

It is the intent of FAST, in compliance with Federal rules and regulations, to develop and implement a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program pursuant to 49 CFR Part 26. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program consists of small businesses that meet three basic criteria:

• At least 51% owned and controlled by minorities, women or other individuals who face economic obstacles in the marketplace,
• The owner(s) personal net worth cannot exceed $1.32 million, minus the equity in their business and primary residence and,
• Meet the criteria of a small business per the Small Business Administration's guidelines for a small business and the company's gross receipts cannot exceed $22.41 million dollars, averaged over a three year period

* Disclaimer (provided by NCDOT):

Please be advised that certification as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with the North Carolina Department of Transportation is a separate and different certification than the North Carolina Department of Administration's Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) certification. Projects with federal funds require that the proposal has a federal (DBE) goal and that the DBE goal is achieved by utilizing certified DBE firms found in the NCDOT Directory of Transportation Firms. For projects that have state funds only (no federal funds), the proposal will have two goals: Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Woman Business Enterprise (WBE). These MBE and WBE goals are achieved by utilizing certified MBE and WBE firms, also found in the NCDOT Directory of Transportation Firms.

For vendors interested in doing business with FAST, please view the City's Current Bid Opportunities.