U.S. Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: Program Implementation Modifications
Notice of Rescheduled Public Listening Session
December 5, 2013
8 am–2 pm (11 am–5 pm EST
U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC
Important Note: ALL interested participants must re-register at www.dot.gov/osdbu
The DBE NPRM listening session originally scheduled to be held October 9, 2013 has been rescheduled to Thursday, December 5, 2013, from 8 am–2 pm (11 am–5 pm, Eastern Standard Time). The comment period for the NPRM is reopened and extended to December 26, 2013.
The DBE NPRM listening session will be held at the U.S. Department of Transportation (1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC). All participants must register by November 21, 2013 at www.dot.gov/osdbu (NOTE: If you registered for the October 9th session, you must re-register for the December 5 session).
The listening session will provide an opportunity for the public to speak to the Department about certain aspects of the NPRM. Specifically, the Department is interested in hearing from the public on the following:
- What are the specific, quantifiable costs and benefits associated with completing or reviewing the proposed forms (Personal Net Worth, Certification Application, Uniform Report on Awards/Commitments; DBE Payment Data) from the perspective of a certifying entity, an applicant firm, or a recipient (where applicable)?
- What are the specific, quantifiable costs and benefits associated with requiring certified DBEs to submit additional documents with the annual no-change affidavit from the perspective of a certifying entity and a certified DBE?
- What are the specific, quantifiable costs and benefits associated with requiring good faith efforts documentation when bids are due and requiring additional documents (i.e., DBE and non-DBE quotes, DBE subcontracts) from the perspective of a prime contractor, a DBE, and the recipient letting the contract?
We are reopening registration for the listening session for both in person and virtual participation. Again, all individuals interested in participating (in–person or via web conference) MUST register no later than November 21, 2013, by going to the OSDBU website at www.dot.gov/osdbu and following the instructions.
- You may attend the session in person (to speak or listen). The registration form will ask you to identify the party you represent and to provide your contact information.
- Speakers will be limited to five minutes each; however, the Department may need to reduce the time allotted, if necessary, to provide all participants the opportunity to speak before the session ends.
- If you register to attend in person, and wish to be a speaker, you will be asked to identify the subjects(s) described above you plan to address (if any).
- You may also register to participate by Web Conferencing (written comments may be provided through the chat room).
- A copy of the agenda will be posted after registration closes.
A panel of Department representatives from the Office of the Secretary and the Operating Administrations will be present to listen to the speakers and may ask questions, if necessary, to seek clarification of comments made by a speaker. However, there will not be a question and answer period during the session where speakers ask questions of the panel. Likewise, for those individual who will log in to the webcast, the Department will also not respond directly to questions posed through the chat room. If necessary, the Department may provide additional instructions at the time of the listening session. A transcript of the session will be made a part of the public docket in this rulemaking. All comments submitted through the chat room also will be made a part of the public docket in this rulemaking.
For information on facilities or services for persons with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, please contact Marilyn Hearns in DOT’s Office of the General Counsel by telephone (202-366-9154) or by email (Marilyn.Hearns@dot.gov) as soon as possible.
Please note that the formal comment period is reopened and extended to December 26, 2013, to provide the public an additional opportunity to submit comments on the NPRM or to submit comments in response to views or information provided at the public listening session or in other public comments. You may submit comments (identified by the agency name and DOT Docket ID Number OST-2012-0147) by any of the following methods:
- Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
- Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
- Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
- Fax: 202-493-2251