DBE Program
WestCAT, continually seeks out new partnerships with businesses to improve our service to the residents of Western Contra Costa County. If you would like to be added to our vendor list, please download and complete our Vendor Form: Click here to download Vendor Form (PDF)
You may also request a form by mail by calling 510-724-3331 and ask to speak with the DBE Liaison Officer.
DBE Program Policy Statement and Program Objectives
Western Contra Costa Transit Authority (WestCAT) has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 26. As a recipient of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. DOT, WestCAT has signed an assurance that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26.
It is the policy of WestCAT to ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts. It is the intention of WestCAT to create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly and participate in the performance of DOT-assisted contracts.
WestCAT’s policies, procedures and goals in this area are detailed in its adopted DBE Program. The program is the result of WestCAT’s commitment to the participation of small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals meeting eligibility standards set forth in 49 CFR Part 26, in purchasing and contracting opportunities funded, in whole or in part by U.S. DOT assistance. The objectives of the DBE Program are:
- To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts;
- To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted contracts;
- To ensure that the DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
- To ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs;
- To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts;
- To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the market place outside the DBE Program.
WestCAT’s General Manager has designated the Grants and Compliance Manager as the DBE Liaison Officer (DBELO). The Grants and Compliance Manager has direct and independent access to WestCAT’s General Manager concerning DBE matters. The Grants and Compliance Manager is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the DBE Program in accordance with WestCAT’s nondiscrimination policy. Implementation of the DBE Program has the same priority as compliance with all other legal obligations incurred by WestCAT in its financial assistance agreements with the U.S. DOT. It is the expectation of the Board of Directors and the General Manager that all WestCAT personnel shall adhere to the spirit, as well as the provisions and procedures of the program.
WestCAT has disseminated this policy statement to its Board of Directors and to all departments of its organization. This policy statement is disseminated to members of the DBE and non-DBE business communities that perform or are interested in performing work on WestCAT’s DOT-assisted contracts. The policy statement is on the WestCAT website
Questions regarding WestCAT’s DBE Program should be addressed to:
Tania Babcock, DBE Liaison Officer
Western Contra Costa Transit Authority (WestCAT)
601 Walter Avenue
Pinole, CA 94564
Telephone: (510) 724-3331
Fax: (510) 724-5551
Email:civilrights@westcat.org
DBE Program
DBE Goal
For additional information and/or to assist you in furthering your efforts as doing business as a DBE or SBE, please feel free to contact the following resources:
- Business Outreach Committee (BOC) - The BOC is a consortium of twenty-five San Francisco Bay Area Transit and Transportation Agencies that assist small, disadvantaged and local firms in doing business with Bay Area transportation agencies. The BOC offers training, technical assistance, and relationship building with agency staff and the contracting community of the San Francisco Bay Area. BOC newsletters are published quarterly and networking events are held throughout the year: Business Outreach Committee (web)
- Locate a Certified DBE: Caltrans Disadvantaged Business Enterprise System (web)
- Apply to become a certified DBE: Caltrans DBE certification information (web)
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code Search: North American Industry Classification System (web)
- NorCal APEX Accelerator (web)
- USDOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (web)
- Southwest Small Business Transportation Resource Center (web)
- US Small Business Administration (web)
- Prime contractors and their subcontractors are encouraged to investigate the full extent of services offered by financial institutions owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in their community and make reasonable efforts to use these institutions.
- BOC Newsletter-Winter 2024 (PDF)
- BOC Newsletter-Winter 2023 (PDF)
- BOC Newsletter-Summer 2022 (PDF)
- BOC Newsletter-Winter-Spring 2022 (PDF)
- 2025 Virtual BOC Public Participation Consultation Meeting- DBE Overall Triennial Goal Setting FFY26-28, May 7, 2025 from 10-11am: Public Participation Consultation Meeting Flyer (PDF)
- 2025 Virtual BOC Public Participation Stakeholder Meeting- DBE Overall Triennial Goal Setting FFY26-28, May 7, 2025 from 12-1:30pm: Public Participation Stakeholder Meeting Flyer (PDF)
- 2025 In Person BOC Public Participation Stakeholder Meeting- DBE Overall Triennial Goal Setting FFY26-28, May 13, 2025 from 10:30am-12:30pm: Public Participation Stakeholder Meeting Flyer (PDF)
- 2025 BOC Meet the Buyers Panel Discussion & Business Networking, April 10, 2025: Meet the Buyers Event Flyer (PDF)
- 2024 BOC Meet the Primes Panel Discussion & Business Networking, November 8, 2024: Meet the Primes Event Flyer (PDF)
- DBE Certification Workshops, June 12 & 13, 2024: Certification Workshop Event Flyer (PDF)
- DBE Meet the Buyers, November 2, 2023: Meet the Buyers Event Flyer (PDF)
- DBE Certification Workshops, June 22 & 29, 2023: Certification Workshop Event Flyer (PDF)
- Estimating and Bidding, June 6 & 13, 2023: Event Flyer (PDF)
- Procurement Series, February 7 & 16, 2023: Event Flyer (PDF)
- DBE Meet the Primes, August 18, 2022: Event Flyer (PDF)
- DBE Goal Setting Public Participation Meeting, April 1 & 26, 2022: Event Flyer (PDF)
- DBE Meet the Buyers, January 27, 2022: Event Flyer (PDF)
- 2025 Virtual Public Participation Consultation Meeting- DBE Overall Triennial Goal Setting FFY26-28, May 7, 2025 from 10-11am: Public Participation Consultation Meeting Flyer (PDF)
- 2025 Virtual Public Participation Stakeholder Meeting- DBE Overall Triennial Goal Setting FFY26-28, May 7, 2025 from 12-1:30pm: Public Participation Stakeholder Meeting Flyer (PDF)
- 2025 In Person Public Participation Stakeholder Meeting- DBE Overall Triennial Goal Setting FFY26-28, May 13, 2025 from 10:30am-12:30pm: Public Participation Stakeholder Meeting Flyer (PDF)
- Public Participation Meeting, April 11 & 26, 2022: Event Presentation (PDF)
- Public Participation Meeting, April 11 & 26, 2022: Event Flyer (PDF)
- Public Participation Meeting, April 11 & 26, 2022: Invitation Letter (PDF)