Comment on Annual Employment Data Requirement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) opened up a comment public comment period regarding the annual employment data submission requirement regulation Title 23, Part 140(a). Contractors and state transportation agencies must submit employment data annully from federal aid transportation construction contracts on form PR-1391, Federal-Aid Highway Construction Contractors Summary of Employment Data. This report provides employment workforce data including the number of minorities, women, and nonminorities in specific highway construction job categories. For additional details about the requirements, use of data, and the request for comment, please see the Federal Register Notice 2019-11768.

To submit comments, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov

DOT Docket ID 2019–0022. Comments are due by August 5, 2019.

INDOT requests your comments to set overall 2017-19 DBE goal

INDOT is proposing an overall Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) goal of 10.9 percent, down from 12.4 percent, effective for construction contracts let in the fiscal years 2017 through 2019. Preliminary studies show the number could reasonably drop even further, depending on your involvement. INDOT is accepting comments until the end of June, then the Federal Highway Administration must approve this proposed goal.

ICI asks contractors to submit comments regarding INDOT’s disparity study.

DBE_Goals

You can also attend one of three public meetings to find out more about the study (see the details below).

The study includes an examination of the availability of minority- and women-owned businesses for state contracts and compared those data to the actual utilization of minority- and women-owned businesses in state contracting. It examined the following minority groups to determine availability and utilization of minority groups in state contracting: Black American-owned businesses; Hispanic American-owned businesses; Asian Pacific American-owned businesses; Subcontinent Asian American-owned businesses; and Native American-owned businesses. The study examined contract data for construction, professional services and goods and supplies from July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2013. The State of Indiana is required to conduct a disparity study every five years to maintain the legal validity for maintaining a Minority and Womens Business Enterprise (MWBE) program.

We encourage you to submit comments to:

Indiana Department of Transportation
Economic Opportunity Division
Attn: Elizabeth Kiefner Crawford, Director
100 North Senate Avenue, Room N750
Indianapolis, IN 46204
DBECertification@indot.in.gov

Public meetings regarding INDOT’s proposed DBE goal will take place on:

June 13, 2016, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., local time
Ivy Tech Community College
Multi-Purpose Room
1440 East 35th Avenue
Gary, Indiana 46409

June 14, 2016, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., local time
Evansville Central Library
Browning Event Room B
200 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47713

June 15, 2016, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., local time
Indiana Government Center South
Conference Rooms 4 & 5
302 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

INDOT will host public meetings to discuss the Overall DBE Goal-Setting Methodology Report and allow for additional public comment. All are welcome to attend. Please contact Dan Osborn with questions regarding the study, DBE and the public comment process and timeline.