THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM OVERVIEW

As of June 30, 2013, the Toll Bridge Small Business Program (SBP) has documented payments of $259 million to more than 330 individual small businesses, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) on Seismic Safety Projects on the Antioch, Dumbarton and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridges. Over $200 million has been paid to local firms.

In regard to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Seismic Safety Project, $252 million has been paid to small businesses, DVBEs and DBEs, with 78% or $198 million paid to local firms.

Some additional facts:

• Small Businesses, DVBEs and DBEs have performed essential elements of bridge construction
• The SBP established a strategic partnering model that is unique to capital construction projects and this structure has produced measurable results
• Prime contractor involvement with subcontractor training is essential to the success of small businesses
• The SBP actively worked in partnership with prime contractors to identify unobligated work in order to maximize small business, DVBE and DBE subcontractor opportunities

The vision of the SBP was to create an integrated program to benefit local and minority small businesses based on public and private sector partnerships. The key element of partnerships is building relationships to promote access, foster growth and facilitate the transfer of technology. The effort to develop and implement the SBP reflects the scope, scale and effort needed to construct a world class bridge.

STEP ONE: Get Certified

Make sure you are currently registered as a small business or disabled veteran business enterprise.

• Check your certification status at the Dept. of General Services website
• Small Business Certification Overview
• DVBE Certification Overview

STEP TWO: Get the status of current contract opportunities

• Caltrans District 4 (Bay Area) construction contract opportunities
• Caltrans Architectural & Engineering contract opportunities

STEP THREE: Advertise your services to prime contractors

• Caltrans Connect/Opt-In

RESOURCES

The Alameda County Small Business Development Center works with Caltrans to help disadvantaged and small business construction and professional service firms, providing free or low-cost training and free one-on-one counseling to improve success in winning and performance on public works contracts.

City Build is an employment service program under the Workforce Development Division of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, which provides workforce training and job referral services to San Francisco residents interested in pursuing a career in the construction industry and assists contractors working on City Construction Projects with their local hiring obligations.

Cypress Mandela Training Center, located in Oakland, is a workforce development program providing skilled trades training to men and women.

Oakland Private Industry Council provides accessible, high quality training and employment services to local residents and employers.

The Department of General Services – Procurement Division, Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services (OSDS) is the State’s certifying agency that administers the Small Business and DVBE Certification Programs. Non-profit organizations and non-profit Veteran Service Associations receive registration upon application approval. In addition, the OSDS’ Communications & Outreach section assists Small and Disabled Veteran businesses by participating in outreach events, providing resource guidance and supporting the businesses through advocacy.

State of California Procurement Division (PD) is the central purchasing authority for all California State departments, agencies, institutions, community colleges, technical institutes and boards of education. Each year the agency procures almost $10 billion of goods and services ranging from pencils to temporary labor.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Small Business Administration – San Francisco Office
• Department of Business, Transportation and Housing – Small Business Enterprise
• Caltrans Office of Business and Economic Opportunity
• Department of General Services Small Business and DVBE Services
• California Small Business Development Center
• Caltrans Connect/opt-in
• Caltrans Bid Posting and Submittals On-Line