Eileen Oliver
DMWBE Program Supervisor
360-705-7089
OliverE@wsdot.wa.gov
Jackie Bayne
DMWBE Contract Compliance Officer
360-705-7084
BayneJ@wsdot.wa.gov
Vacant
DMWBE Contract Compliance Officer
360-705-7082
Fatema Aboutalep
DMWBE Contract Compliance Specialist
360-705-7092
AboutaF@wsdot.wa.gov
References:
The Disadvantaged Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (DMWBE) Unit administers the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and the Washington State’s Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) program. The purpose of the DBE program is to ensure a level playing field and foster equal opportunity for firms owned and operated by disadvantaged individuals on USDOT-assisted contracts and procurements. The purpose of the MWBE program is to provide maximum practicable opportunity for firms owned and operated by minorities and women in public works projects and procurement.
The primary functions of this unit include:
- Setting Condition of Award (COA) or Voluntary goals on applicable projects.
- Assist the construction office in the administration of project advertising and awards as it relates to DMWBE participation.
- Monitoring DMWBE participation levels on contracts.
- Conducting Commercially Useful Function (CUF) reviews of DBE subcontractors and contract compliance reviews of prime contractors and DBE subcontractors on WSDOT USDOT-assisted contracts.
- Providing assistance in resolving DBE compliance disputes and complaints.
- Providing program guidance to Regional EEO Officers and Project Engineers.
- Providing DMWBE program training for WSDOT personnel, local agencies, contractors, and other interested parties.
- Monitoring the administration of consultant contracts as it relates to equal opportunity and the participation levels of DMWBE firms.
- Assisting in the management of certification and supportive services contracts and in conducting program management reviews.
In order to fulfill its responsibilities for properly certifying firms as DBEs, WSDOT has an Interagency Agreement with the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) to provide certification and recertification of eligible firms wishing to participate or continue to participate on USDOT-assisted projects and procurements as DBE firms. OMWBE also conducts on-site certification reviews prior to the issuance of DBE certification for all firms applying for DBE status. As a result of a third party challenge or complaint, following the normal administrative process, OMWBE can also deny, render a firm ineligible, or administratively close a firm’s DBE status in accordance with USDOT regulations. The ECRB Manager monitors the performance of this function.
DBE Certification Information
Juan Huey-Ray
Certification Manager
360-704-1197
jhuey-ray@omwbe.wa.gov
Leslie Ling
Management Analyst 4
360-704-1193 (Ext. 113)
lesliel@omwbe.wa.gov
Sarah Smith
Management Analyst 4
360-704-1185 (Ext. 104)
sarahs@omwbe.wa.gov
Tom Zvirzdys
Management Analyst 4
360-704-1183 (Ext. 103)
tomz@omwbe.wa.gov
DBE Support Services
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Support Services is a federally funded program designed to help those DBEs wishing to work on WSDOT highway projects. Support services are available only to DBEs who are certified in the highway construction industry to include construction companies, consultants and suppliers. WSDOT’s DBE Support Services program offers the following services free of charge:
• Technical assistance in the areas of:
— Estimating and bidding
— Record keeping
— Business management
— Financial accounting
• Enrollment in a business development program
• Enrollment in business related courses
• Access to highway plans and specifications
• Notification of upcoming contracting opportunities
• Notification of upcoming outreach and networking events
Partners
OEO has contracted with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle’s Contractor Development and Competitiveness Center (CDCC), Seattle Public Schools’ Regional Small Business Development Program and the Small Business Transportation Resources Center to provide DBE support services, copies of project plans, technical assistance, business development courses, and training on how to successfully bid Washington Department of Transportation’s projects. These services will be provided free of charge to certified highway related DBEs.
The CDCC’s “Pathways Program” is tailored to evaluate small businesses and provide valuable feedback to the business owners which identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the business and offers recommendations and referrals to various subject matter experts or resource agencies that will work with the business to enhance their overall business capabilities.
Seattle Public Schools offers business development courses that are available “free of charge” to highway related DBEs. Following are some of the courses offered:
• Public Contracting – Success in Business
• Benefits & Limitations of Certification
• Excel/Professional Invoicing
• IT Basic and MS Word
• MS Project I, II, III, and IV
• Blue Print I and II
• Estimating I and II
• Quick Books I, II, III, IV, V, and VI
The Small Business Transportation Resource Center offers market research, business training and counseling, referrals, and packaging and processing of short-term loans.
For more information please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) in Olympia, WA toll free at (888) 259-9143. We can also be reached by email at dbess@wsdot.wa.gov or by writing to:
Washington State Department of Transportation
Office of Equal Opportunity
310 Maple Park Avenue SE
P.O. Box 47314
Olympia, WA 98504-7314