The Local Business Contract Equity (LBCE) Program encourages business to locate and remain in Alameda County, to employ residents of Alameda County and to spend Measure B funds for goods and services with local Alameda County businesses. In 2000, Alameda County voters approved the Measure B half-cent sales tax on retail sales made within the county. These revenues are exclusively directed toward improving the transit and transportation systems within the county.

Small and local businesses not only provide economic and social vitality to our communities, they also help accomplish Alameda CTC's purchasing objectives. The LBCE Program benefits Local Business Enterprise (LBE), Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) and Very Small Local Business Enterprise (VSLBE) businesses.

This program applies to contracts funded solely by Measure B funds or a combination of Measure B and local funds. Contracts that include state and federal funds must adhere to state and federal requirements.

The LBCE team implements focused outreach to enable businesses who wish to do business with us equal access when competing for opportunities as contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and providers of goods and services.

• 2017 Local Business Contract Equity (LBCE) Program (December 7, 2017)

Certified Firms

Alameda CTC updates and publishes a list of local businesses currently certified on the 15th day of each month.

• Certified Firms - January 2019 (Revised January 23, 2019)

Certification Documents

Alameda CTC is an active member of the East Bay Interagency Alliance (EBIA). Members of EBIA include Alameda CTC, Alameda County, City of Oakland, and Port of Oakland. These agencies have developed and utilize the EBIA Common Application, as well as supplemental forms specific to each agency.

• EBIA Common Certification Application Overview (PDF)
• EBIA Common Certification Application (PDF)
• EBIA Common Re-certification Application (PDF)
• Certification Standards for LBCE Program - Supplemental B (PDF)
• Certification Checklist (PDF)
• IRS Forms and Instructions (e.g., see Form 4506-T) (URL)

Sponsor Agency Documents

A Sponsor Agency is any public entity receiving Measure B, Measure BB, VRF, and/or other local funds from Alameda CTC to implement projects. Please refer to LBCE Program Appendix B for Responsibilities of Sponsor Agencies.

The LBCE documents below for Sponsor Agency use are provided in PDF format, and the corresponding Word versions, if available, are provided in DOC format. Any questions regarding these forms and their use should be directed to the Alameda CTC staff serving as your point of contact. If you find any errors, please contact E.W. Cheng at echeng@alamedactc.org.

• Exhibit A1 - Procurement Process: Professional Services (PDF)
• Exhibit A2 - Compliance Language: Professional Services (PDF) (DOC)
• Exhibit B1 - Procurement Process: Construction (PDF)
• Exhibit B2 - Compliance Language: Construction (PDF) (DOC)

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact us:

Certification Team
510.208.7460
certification@alamedactc.org

E.W. Cheng, Associate Administrative Analyst 510.208.7472 echeng@alamedactc.org

The Alameda CTC is committed to the participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in Alameda CTC contracting opportunities in accordance with federal regulations 49 CFR Part 26, amended May 1, 2006 by the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”), as amended from time to time (“Regulations”). The DBE Program applies to all federally funded contracts.

The main objectives of the DBE Program are:

• To ensure that small DBE firms can compete fairly for federally funded transportation-related projects.
• To ensure that only eligible firms participate as a DBE firm.
• To assist DBE firms in competing outside of the DBE Program.

In order for small disadvantaged firms, including those owned by minorities and women, to participate as a DBE in federal-aid contracts, they must apply for and receive certification as a DBE. For the state of California, DBE certification is performed by the certifying agencies of the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP).

General Criteria for Certification as a DBE

1. The firm must be an existing for-profit "Small Business Concern," as defined pursuant to Section 3 of the Small Business Act and Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations implementing it (13 CFR Part 121). Further, the average annual gross receipts for the firm (including its affiliates) over the previous three fiscal years shall not exceed the cap of $22.41 million, as adjusted for inflation by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
2. The firm must be at least 51% owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. In the case of a corporation, such individuals must own at least 51% of each class of voting stock outstanding and 51% of the aggregate of all stock outstanding. In the case of a partnership, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals must own 51% of each class of partnership interest. In the case of a limited liability company, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals must own at least 51% of each class of member interest.
3. The firm's ownership by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals must be real, substantial and continuing, going beyond pro forma ownership of the firm.
4. The firm must be an independent business, and one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who own it must control its management and daily operations.
5. The firm must be owned and controlled by individuals, each of whose personal net worth does not exceed $1,320,000, excluding an individual 's ownership interest in the applicant firm and the individual 's equity in his or her personal, primary residence. "Personal Net Worth " means the net value of the assets of an individual remaining after total liabilities are deducted. A "Personal Net Worth Statement " is included in the DBE Certification application.
6. "Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual" means any individual who is a citizen of the United States (or lawfully admitted permanent resident) and who is:
   1. Any individual found to be socially and economically disadvantaged, on a case-by-case basis, by a certifying agency of the CUCP, pursuant to standards of the DOT in 49 CFR Part 26, Subpart D-Certification Standards.
   2. Any individual in the following groups, members of which are reputably presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged:
   3. "Black Americans" which includes persons having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa;
   4. "Hispanic Americans" which includes persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central or South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese culture or origin, regardless of race;
   5. "Native Americans" which includes persons who are American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, or Native Hawaiians;
   6. "Asian-Pacific Americans" which includes persons whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia (Kampuchea), Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Samoa, Guam, the U. S. Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands (Republic of Palau), the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Macao, Fiji, Tonga, Kirbati, Juvalu, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, or Hong Kong;
   7. "Subcontinent Asian Americans" which includes persons whose origins are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands, Nepal or Sri Lanka;
   8. Women; and
   9. Any additional groups whose members are designated as socially and economically disadvantaged by the SBA, at such time as the SBA designation becomes effective.

If your company satisfies all the above criteria, you may be interested in applying for DBE certification status.

DBE Certification Process

The California United Certification Process (CUCP) has established Regional DBE Certification Clusters designed to facilitate statewide DBE certification activities. The CUCP eliminates the need for DBE firms to obtain certification from multiple agencies within the state. If your firm meets the General Criteria for DBE Certification, please submit your completed CUCP Application packet to one of the certifying agencies located in the region that your primary place of business is located.

For additional information about the DBE Program, including certification, please visit the following websites:

• California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Office of Business & Economic Opportunity (OBEO): http://www.dot.ca.gov/obeo/
• DOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization: https://www.transportation.gov/osdbu

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact:

E.W. Cheng, Associate Administrative Analyst
510.208.7472
echeng@alamedactc.org