Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Connect Transit's Procurement Department is responsible for administering the federally mandated Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Connect Transit, in recognition of the responsibilities to the community it serves, seeks to involve socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in all phases of procurement and contract activities including consultant contracts, construction contracts and purchase of other goods and services related to transportation projects.

Connect Transit is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in the conduct of its business, including the procurement of goods and services. Connect Transit recognizes its responsibilities to the communities in which it operates and to the society it serves and reaffirms that commitment through the operation of its DBE program and Connect Transit's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Policy Statement.onnect Transit is

For more information on Connect Transit's DBE program, contact the Office of the DBE Liaison Officer at (309) 829-1159 or [email protected].

Who is an Eligible Disadvantaged Business Enterprise?

Applicant firms must be found eligible to be certified as a DBE under the federal regulations contained in 49 CFR Part 26. The eligibility standards include that the firm must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Also, the firm must be controlled and managed on a daily basis by the disadvantaged owner(s).

A firm must also be a small business as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations in 13 CFR Part 121. In addition, 49 CFR part 26 provides a cap of $23.98 million average gross receipts over a three year period. Size standards will differ for different types of firms.

DBE Goalsetting Methodology

FY22 - 24 DBE Goal Setting Methodology

DBE Certification

Connect participates in the Illinois Unified Certification Program from DBE vendors. The following agencies are Certification Agencies for DBE vendors and certification by any one of them will be recognized by ALL transit systems in the State of Illinois. To request DBE certification information, contact any one of the following:

Illinois Department of Transportation

Bureau of Small Business Enterprises

Attention: Certification Section

2300 South Dirksen Parkway, Room 319

Springfield, IL 62764

Website

City of Chicago

Department of Procurement Services

Certification and Compliance Division

121 North LaSalle Street Room 403

Chicago, IL 60602

Website