Metra, Chicago’s commuter rail service, doubled its number of disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) prime contractors in 2013. That growth trend expanded in 2014 as DBE contract amounts also grew exponentially from $15 to $24 million. While this good news is welcome, Janice R. Thomas, senior director of Metra’s Office of Business Diversity and Civil Rights, is nowhere near finished.
“Overcoming obstacles in business diversity is more than a number,” she said. “This tells me very clearly that in some cases, the issue is not access to an available opportunity. The issue is a ‘knowledge gap’,” Thomas said.
So what else can be done? For Metra, one of the largest commuter rail systems in the nation, that answer involves a cohesive staff, tried best practices and strict program tenets.
Cohesive Staff
The Office of Business Diversity & Civil Rights (OBDCR) within Metra administers the DBE program. OBDCR’s core functions include DBE certification, compliance, outreach, and the Title VI program. Thomas has worked to make these four departments operate as a seamless whole. The result is cohesive team building and high-quality work.
Best Practices
Outreach is a key best practice. Metra addresses the ‘knowledge gap’ through community outreach. The outreach program works to help small businesses understand good faith efforts, business practices, and the contracting process. Free workshops and networking events are held throughout the year to educate small business owners on maximizing their DBE status, productive networking, successfully completing a bid package, and doing business with Metra.
Metra’s DBE program provides ongoing communication and support. This includes email alerts exclusively for DBEs on upcoming contracts, an annual awards and networking event to recognize and bring together DBEs and general contractors, routine surveys for feedback and input, and newsletters with business development articles and contracting opportunities. All of these efforts result in more informed business owners who can properly take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
Strict Program Tenets
Metra’s DBE program has four key tenets.
- The DBE goal is responsiveness not responsibility. The means of fulfilling the goal must be obtained and outlined by the general contractor before the contract is awarded in order to be deemed responsive to the bid.
- The senior director of OBDCR must sign off before contracts with federally assisted funds are awarded. To ensure there is diversity and inclusion on Metra contracts, the senior director signs off on all requisitions over $100,000 to determine if it is a race conscious or race neutral opportunity for DBEs.
- Metra ensures there is a pool of ready and available DBEs. Before assigning a DBE goal, the senior director ensures there is are capable DBE firms to perform the work. OBDCR will provide an exhaustive list of applicable DBEs to the general contractor if they report having trouble finding a capable firm.
- Contracts must be monitored throughout the life of the contract and DBEs must perform a commercially useful function. Participants in DBE programs must understand the applicable rules and ensure the meaningful participation of minority and women contractors. OBDCR’s contract compliance team works to ensure the subcontracted work is being fully performed by a capable DBE. Monitoring contracts also extends to labor compliance and ensuring Metra construction contractors are paying the prevailing wage and complying with the Davis Bacon and Related Acts.
A cohesive staff, best practices and adherence to standards have resulted in a DBE program that is a model for the rest. Businesses that have benefited can attest to Metra’s ambitious DBE program.
“Metra’s DBE team is not only very knowledgeable but very accessible and helpful in every aspect of DBE certification. The program has helped immensely; it allows us to improve our engineering and architectural experience, which led to being consultants for Metra and other agencies,” said Dipak S. Shah, of Rubinos & Mesia Engineers, Inc.
According to Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno the DBE program is a priority for the railroad. “The team we have in place is committed to excellence, fairness, and providing the best opportunities to DBE businesses,” he said.
