Assessment of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration

摘要

The report summarizes the findings of a project which examined the effectiveness of the Disadvantaged Business provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, as amended, which require recipients of Federal transportation funds to establish goals for contracting with women businesses and the disadvantaged businesses. It also assesses the extent to which women-owned businesses are involved in contracting opportunities and analyzes problems and issues impacting the achievement of overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise goals. Through candid discussions and interviews with transit operators and contractors in Texas and other Southwestern cities, problems and issues were identified and examined from the perspective of funding recipients and contractors. Major issues treated in the study include: certification; bonding; and the bidding and contracting process.