Fort Smith Transit (FST)  has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in compliance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26 which details Fort Smith Transit’s process for setting the FFY’s 2024-2026 overall goal for DBE participation in federally assisted transit projects. 

It is the policy of Fort Smith Transit to ensure that DBEs, as defined in 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 marketplace outside the DBE program.

The Civil Rights Officer has been delegated as the DBE Liaison Officer.  In that capacity, the CRO is responsible for implementing all aspects of the DBE program.  Implementation of the DBE program is afforded the same priority as compliance with all other legal obligations incurred by Fort Smith Transit in its financial assistance agreements with the Department of Transportation.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Small Business Program:

DBE Program 2024-2026

DBE Program 2024-2026 Spanish

DBE Program 2024-2026 Vietnamese

DBE CERTIFICATION

Unified Certification Program

FST is a member of a Unified Certification Program (UCP) administered by the Arkansas Department of Transportation. The UCP will meet all the requirements of this section. FST will use and count for DBE credit only those DBE firms certified by ARDOT. For more information on the UCP, contact ARDOT at P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203-2261 or (501) 569-2000.

DBE Application: DBE Uniform Certification Application

ARDOT Equal Employment Opportunity & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Link: EEO/DBE

DBE Regulations, 49 CFR Part 26:Title-49/Part-26

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Tips for Goal Setting in the DBE Program: Tips for Goal-Setting

For any questions or comments contact:

Gregory A. Carthon, DBE Liaison Officer

Email: gcarthon@fortsmithar.gov

Phone: (479) 788-4148