COATS MPO Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Survey The Columbia Area Transportation Study Metropolitan Planning Organization (COATS MPO) is administering this survey to assess its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. Input received from this survey will help identify strategies to increase the participation of DBE firms as consultants, contractors, and service providers in the COATS MPO’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) contracting process. Your feedback on this survey is greatly appreciated! OK Question Title * 1. Business Name: OK Question Title * 2. Your Name: OK Question Title * 3. Email: OK Question Title * 4. If you do not already receive emails about the COATS MPO contracting opportunities, would you like to be added to the email list? Yes No OK Question Title * 5. Are you typically engaged in projects as a prime or a sub-consultant/contractor? Prime Sub-consultant Equal mix of prime and sub-consultant OK Question Title * 6. If primarily a sub-consultant, are you interested in becoming a prime consultant/contractor? Yes No OK Question Title * 7. If primarily a sub-consultant, do you feel as though you are actively involved in the prime’s proposal/contracting process? Yes No OK Question Title * 8. When bidding or working on federally-funded contracts with the COATS MPO, do you feel that DBEs/small businesses encounter more barriers than the standard business? Yes No Not Sure If Yes, Why? OK Question Title * 9. If no to #6 above, when bidding or working on federally-funded contracts, do you believe having a DBE certification gives you an advantage? Yes No Makes no difference Please explain how having a DBE certification gives you an advantage or not. OK Question Title * 10. Do you feel that the COATS MPO provides solicitations, specifications, and delivery schedules in ways that facilitate participation by DBEs and other small businesses? Yes No Recommendations for improvement? OK Question Title * 11. Do you feel that the COATS MPO effectively communicates and provides information regarding contracting procedures and opportunities? For example, ensuring the consideration of DBEs and other small businesses on recipient mailing lists for bidders; providing to prime consultants lists of potential DBE subcontractors; providing information in languages other than English, when necessary, etc.) Yes No If No, do you have any suggestions for improvement? OK Question Title * 12. Which do you feel are the best ways for the COATS MPO to communicate procurement opportunities to interested DBE contractors? CMCOG Website Emails Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 13. Do you feel that the COATS MPO provides a good level of communication to learn about new and upcoming procurements? Yes No Not Sure If No, do you have any suggestions for improvement? OK Question Title * 14. What types of training or assistance do you believe would help in the area(s) listed above? DBE certification application process Award process/protests Business licensing requirements Bidding/estimating Change orders Contract administration How to receive solicitations/bid notices Pre-qualification Proposal preparation Financial management Financing sources Submitting payment requests Using online directory of certified firms South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Office of Business Development & Special Programs Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 15. What do you feel are the biggest barriers or challenges to bidding or working on federally-funded contracts with the COATS MPO? Dealing with primes or subs Inability to obtain bonding Financing my business Getting consistent work Handling my workload and other requirements Managing my business Marketing my business Building partnerships Processing the COATS MPO’s paperwork and meeting requirements Other (please specify) OK Question Title * 16. Would you be willing to mentor other DBEs to help them bid successfully and perform better on federally-funded contracts? Yes No Not Sure OK Question Title * 17. What do you think are the most useful benefits available to you from the COATS MPO DBE program? OK Question Title * 18. What do you think the COATS MPO could do to improve its DBE program? OK DONE