Unified Certification Program (UCP) for DBE Firms How does the Unified Certification Program aid DBEs'?

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  • What is the UCP and how does it help DBEs?

    Each state has its own Unified Certification Program (UCP), which is administered by their Department of Transportation.  The purpose of the UCP is to provide "one-stop shopping" for applicants to apply for DBE certification, such that an applicant is required to apply only once for a DBE certification that and it will be honored by all agencies that are recipients of Federal DOT funding in the state.

    State and local recipients of Federal Ddepartment of Transportation money often set DBE participation goals on their contracts.  Prime bidders must either meet of make a good faith effort to meet these goals.  When a DBE is certified through the UCP, it is included in the UCP Directory.  Prime bidders needing to perform outreach to DBEs for their bid can use the UCP Directory to locate potential DBE subcontractors and suppliers.
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  • Bidder's Good Faith Effort to meet DBE, MBE, WBE Goals

    For all construction project bids that do not meet or exceed the DBE/MBE/WBE goals set for that project, a Good Faith Effort report will be required to determine if the bidder made a good faith effort in trying to meet the advertised goal(s). As part of that report, the NCDOT requests that you submit a Subcontractor Quote Comparison based on the example given below. Please consider all information on the 'Example' to be fictitious.  The submittal information is outlined in the project’s Special Provision.

    Forms and Information available for download:

  • Equal Opportunity Contract Compliance

    The program objectives of the equal employment opportunity contract compliance are:

    • To ensure that contractors do not discriminate in employment and contracting on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or sex. 
    • NCDOT is responsible for enforcing the required EEO contract provisions on a contract by contract basis in accordance with Title 23 USC 140, FHWA 1273 and Executive Order 11246.
    • To ensure nondiscrimination in the hiring, employment practices and subcontracting of primes and subcontractors involved in the highway program.
    • Vendors and suppliers are subject to the federal contract provisions whenever they hold contracts where Federal aid funds are involved in excess of $10,000.

    Contract Compliance Process:

    The equal opportunity contract compliance process is the means for determining whether a firm performing on Federal or Federal aid highway contracts is in compliance with its Equal Opportunity program requirements. The contract compliance program involves objectively applying analytical approaches to all pertinent evidence and information in making this determination of compliance. In the event non-compliance is found, a systematic process to obtain and ensure compliance must be applied. ​

  • EEO Good Faith Efforts

    EEO Good faith efforts must be demonstrated in the following areas:

    • Contractor's EEO Policy
    • Dissemination of the EEO Policy
    • Authority and Responsibility of EEO Officer
    • Periodic EEO meetings (EEO indoctrination)
    • Notices/posters on bulletin board
    • Advertising as an "EEO Employer"
    • Systematic and direct recruitment likely to yield minority and women employees
    • Educate all new supervisors on EEO responsibilities
    • Encourage employees to refer minorities and women
    • Evaluates wages to eliminate discrimination
    • Investigate all complaints
    • Increasing skills of minorities and women
    • Advises employees and applicants of training opportunities
    • Ensure non-segregated facilities
    • Minorities and women employed in all occupations, crafts, and job classifications on an equal basis
    • Contractor solicits bids from and utilize DBE subcontractors and or suppliers or subcontractors with meaningful minority and female representation
    • Monitor subcontractors’ compliance with nondiscrimination, EO, EEO obligations 
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