In March 2009, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the California Department of Transportation’s 2009 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Annual Overall Program Goal.  As a result of this approval, the State including local agencies, who receive federal aid funds, are required to implement a new DBE Program that includes an Underutilized Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (UDBE) Race Conscious component.

On May 12, 2009, the City of Clovis executed the new Race Conscious DBE Implementation Agreement with the California Department of Transportation.   Implementation of the State’s Race Conscious component of the DBE program applies to the City of Clovis because we are a sub-recipient of federal aid funds.  By executing the Implementation Agreement Clovis can continue receiving federal aid funds to improve its transportation system.  The objectives of the agreement are based on U.S Department of Transportation, 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 26 Requirements.  Under this agreement, Clovis must ensure the DBE’s have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in our federal-aid contracts. 

With the 2009 enactment of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and the increase in transportation contracting opportunities it brings, the urgency for Caltrans to implement race conscious contract goals was heightened.  Therefore on June 2, 2009, all federal-aid funded projects administered by Local Agencies were required to include race-conscious provisions in their projects. 

On May 28, 2010, the Division of Local Assistance discontinued the requirement for local agencies to establish an Annual Anticipated DBE Participation Level (AADPL).