OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Non-discrimination Programs

1.

Minority-owned Business Enterprise & Women-owned Business Enterprise Program (MBE & WBE Program)

At the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) this program is applied to all contracts for bid/proposal that are funded entirely by DRPA revenue.

Staff from the Office of Business Development & Equal Opportunity (OBD&EO) carefully review the project scope, estimated dollar value of the contract, and potential subcontracting opportunities for "ready, willing and able" MBEs or WBEs to determine whether MBE and WBE participation goals should be established. When M/WBE participation goals are established for the project the DRPA expects bidders/proposers to exercise "substantial good faith efforts" to locate certified MBEs and WBEs to participate on the project.

Under the provisions of the MBE & WBE Program, at bid time, bidders/proposers are required to submit their M/WBE plan (to be reported on the "M/WBE Commitment Sheet") which: (1) identifies the MBEs and WBEs they will use on the project if they are the successful bidder or proposer; (2) provides a description of the services to be performed by the MBEs and WBEs; and (3) states the dollar value of the work to be performed by the M/WBEs.

In order for participation by MBEs and WBEs to count toward the participation goals the MBEs and WBEs must be certified at bid time by a certifying entity approved by the Office of Business Development & Equal Opportunity.

2.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program (DBE program)

This program governs all contracts for bid/proposal that are funded in whole, or in part, by funds received from the Federal Department of Transportation.

In March of 1999, a new DBE regulation [49 CFR Parts 26 and 23 (Airport Concessions)] took effect and revamped the U.S. Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and imposed requirements on states to narrowly tailor their DBE programs and establish Unified Certification Programs (UCPs).

Under the DBE regulation all recipients in each state of funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (U.S. DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are required to band together and implement a Unified Certification Program (UCP) that will provide "one-stop-shopping" for DBEs.

The DRPA recognizes the Unified Certification Programs in the State of New Jersey (NJ UCP) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA UCP) and will accept certifications performed by both UCPs. For more information on both UCP’s please visit www.paucp.com and www.njucp.net.

3.

Vendor Diversity Program

This program governs all purchases made by the Purchasing Department for the DRPA and PATCO. Under the provisions of this program the buyers query their vendor database to locate companies who can supply a particular commodity or perform a service. To the extent possible, the program requires buyers to rotate vendors to ensure that all companies are given an equal opportunity to compete for purchases.

When M/WBE vendors cannot be located in the vendor database buyers contact the Office of Business Development & Equal Opportunity to request that we search OBD&EO's M/W/DBE directory, as well as the directories of surrounding sister agencies to try and locate MBE or WBE vendors who may be interested in bidding on the purchase.