DBE Program


It is the policy of the County of Humboldt to ensure that DBEs as defined in 49 CFR Part 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT–assisted contracts.  It is also our policy:

  1. To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT – assisted contracts;
  2. To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted contracts;
  3. To ensure that the DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
  4. To ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs;
  5. To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT assisted contracts;
  6. To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the market place outside the DBE Program.

In order to receive federal funds, Humboldt County has given assurances that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26 and its policy stated above.  The Department of Public Works must make work available to DBEs in its contracting and consulting opportunities.  Bids and Request for proposal have work items that are consistent with available DBE consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, and truckers.  The Department of Public Works has created DBE programs for both Caltrans and Federal Aviation (FAA) assisted programs; the FAA program is further subdivided into construction/capital improvement projects and airport concessionaires DBE programs.  For information on these programs please follow the links shown below.  

Caltrans Office of Business & Economic Opportunity (OBEO): Caltrans OBEO

To read 49 CFR Part 26 online, you may visit: Elec. Code of Fed. Reg.

The Department of Public Work's DBE program is composed of several documents: Exhibit 9A, the Implementation Agreement for Local Agencies, which describes the program, policies, and administrative requirements; Exhibits 9B & 9C, which are submitted annually and detail some technical aspects of the DBE Program; and organization chart and other supporting documents including the DBE Goal Setting Calculations. 

Bidders on projects that have a DBE goal must show they have met the goal or have made an adequate good faith effort to meet the goal.  Guidance as to what constitutes adequate good faith efforts may be found in Caltran's Local Assistance Procedure Manual (LAPM).  In addition,  DBE is granted certain contracting rights Per 49 CFR Part 26. For instance, once a prime contractor has been awarded a project with a DBE subcontractor, the DBE subcontractor may be substituted in only limited situations. These and other DBE issues are discussed in Caltran's Local Assistance Procedures Manual, which may be viewed on-line at: Caltrans LAPM

If a DBE feels that they may have been discriminated against, they may file a complaint with the Department of Public Works, Caltrans or with the Federal Government by following the links provided below:   need to find DBE complaint procedure). Caltrans OBEO    FHWA Office of Civil Rights