Doing Business with Us
RTA strives to establish a level playing field for the various businesses that compete for the taxpayer dollars we spend. The RTA also works to ensure that the businesses and workforce building our regional transit system represent the demographics of our region.
Disadvantaged and Small Business Enterprise
Diversity, equity and inclusion makes us stronger, as individuals and as an organization. We are committed to creating equitable processes and outcomes across our region.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
Under the DBE Program, the RTA has established participation goals for federally funded contracts by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DBE Program is established in accordance with the previsions under 49 Code of Federal Regulation Part 26 and is a requirement of DOT as a condition of receiving federal assistance.
- Your firm is at least 51% owned by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual (or individuals) who also controls the firm.
- The disadvantaged owner is a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States.
- To be considered economically disadvantaged, the individual’s Personal Net Worth, not including their primary place of residence or ownership in the business cannot exceed $2.047 million in compliance with the 49 CFR Part 26.67.
- Your firm is a small business that meets the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) size standard and does not exceed $30.72 million in gross annual receipts.
- Your firm is organized as a for-profit business.
Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program
Please use the PDF forms below and follow their instructions to apply for DBE Certification through the RTA. Once you have applied for and received DBE certification, you can bid on RTA projects as a DBE vendor.
- SBE Application Checklist
- SBE Certification Application
- SBE Affidavit of Certification (for certified DBE firms)
- Personal Financial Statement
- SBE Annual Affidavit
The SBE Program is used for both federally and non-federally funded procurement projects at the RTA. As such, once your business is certified as a SBE you can bid on both federal and non-federal projects as a small business.
Have any questions?
Contact the DBE/SBE office:
| Adonis C. Exposé DBE/SBE Liaison Officer III (504) 827-8301 aexpose@rtaforward.org | Keziah Lee Cawthorne DBE Program Administrator II (504) 827-8362 |
The State of Louisiana has identified the RTA as certifying agency for the States Unified Certification Program containing the definitions, requirements, processes, and forms to be used by a number of certifying agencies.
© Regional Transit Authority