The following survey is voluntary and may be completed anonymously. Pursuant to federal regulation 49 C.F.R. Part 26, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is seeking comments on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and overall DBE goal for the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) & Metropolitan Planning Organizations. In establishing the overall DBE goal, the federal regulations require that MDOT consult with minority, women’s and general contractor groups, community organizations, and other officials or organizations which could be expected to have information concerning the availability of disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged businesses, the effects of discrimination on opportunities for DBEs, and efforts to establish a level playing field for the participation of DBEs. MDOT appreciates your input and requests that you answer the following survey questions.

Question Title

* 1. Type of work your firm primarily performs (choose one):

Question Title

* 2. How many years has your firm been in business?

Question Title

* 3. Is your firm a certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE)?

Question Title

* 4. Is your firm at least 51% owned and controlled by a racial/ethnic minority and/or female?

Question Title

* 5. Is your firm a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)?

Question Title

* 6. If your firm is a certified DBE, have you ever been asked to provide a quote to perform work or participate as a subcontractor on an SHA contract that did NOT have a DBE goal? 

Question Title

* 7. Have you ever solicited a minority- or woman-owned business to perform work or participate as a subcontractor on an SHA contract that did NOT have a DBE goal?

Question Title

* 8. In the past 2 years, has your firm submitted a bid or proposal on any SHA or MDOT DBE contract as a prime contractor?

Question Title

* 9. If you submitted a bid or proposal on more than one SHA or MDOT DBE contract as a prime contractor during the past year, how many of those contracts were awarded to you? (Provide number for both SHA and MDOT.) (For example- SHA - 7 and MDOT - 2)

Question Title

* 10. What percentage of SHA or MDOT DBE work performed by your firm was performed as a prime contractor? (Please estimate percentage of gross receipts received based on total SHA contract work.  Provide estimate for both SHA and MDOT.) (For example, SHA - 25% and MDOT - 10%)

Question Title

* 11. As a prime contractor, have you ever solicited a minority- or woman- owned business to work with you as a subcontractor on a SHA contract that did NOT have DBE goals?

Question Title

* 12. In the past 2 years, has you form submitted a bid or proposal on any SHA or MDOT DBE contracts as a subcontractor to a prime contractor?

Question Title

* 13. How many times did prime contractors accept your bid?

Question Title

* 14. How many times was the contractor that selected you for its team successful in winning SHA or MDOT DBE contracts?

Question Title

* 15. What percentage of SHA or MDOT work performed by your firm was performed as a subcontractor? (Please estimate percentage of gross receipts received based on total SHA contract work)

Question Title

* 16. If your firm performed work on SHA or MDOT contracts as a subcontractor, what percentage of those contracts had DBE goals?

Question Title

* 17. In your experience, have any of the following factors negatively impacted your firm’s ability to do business in the Maryland marketplace? (Check all that apply.)

Question Title

* 18. Have you ever been treated less favorably due to race, ethnicity and/or gender while participating or attempting to participate in business dealings within the Maryland marketplace?

Question Title

* 19. If YES to question 18, choose all types of business dealings in which you have felt less favorably treated.

Question Title

* 20. In response to question 19, to the extent you feel comfortable sharing such experiences, please provide details regarding any business dealings in which you were treated less favorably due to race, ethnicity and/or gender.

Question Title

* 21. The current SHA DBE overall participation goal is 26.39%. (Race Conscious Component 22.90% Race Neutral Component 3.49%) Do you think this a fair goal for disadvantaged business participation on SHA projects?

Question Title

* 22. In response to question 21, please explain why or why not?  (For example, explain whether you think the SHA DBE Goal reflects the existing availability of minority businesses that provide goods and services sought by SHA).

Question Title

* 23. Do you think the current SHA DBE Goals should be adjusted?

Question Title

* 24. In response to question 23, describe why you think the current SHA DBE Goals should increase, decrease or remain the same as indicated above.

Question Title

* 25. In response to question 24, identify and or describe any data or evidence to support your position? 

Question Title

* 26. Please provide any other input you or your firm has regarding SHA procurement and/or the DBE Program.

Question Title

* 27. The current MDOT DBE overall participation goal is 26.2%. (Race Conscious Component 19.2% Race Neutral Component 7.0%} Do you think this a fair goal for disadvantaged business participation on MDOT funded projects?

Question Title

* 28. In response to question 27, please explain why or why not?  (For example, explain whether you think the goal reflects the existing availability of disadvantaged minority businesses that provide goods and services sought by MDOT fund recipients).

Question Title

* 29. Do you think the current MDOT goals should be adjusted?

Question Title

* 30. In response to question 29, describe why you think the current MDOT goals should increase, decrease or remain the same as indicated above.

Question Title

* 31. In response to question 30, identify and or describe any data or evidence to support your position?

Question Title

* 32. Please provide any other input you or your firm has regarding MDOT and/or the DBE Program.

Question Title

* 33. Please list any construction minority-focused organizations that you would you like to see used to disseminate DBE and related notices and other information.

THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THE SURVEY!
Note: To request additional information and/or a meeting with MDOT/SHA representatives to discuss DBE goals or this survey, contact the MDOT's Office of Small & Minority Business Policy (OSMBP) at mdotmbeoutreach@mdot.maryland.gov or 410-865-1298.
Note: In addition to the Survey, Stakeholders also have an opportunity to participate in Stakeholder Public Consultation and Listening Sessions scheduled on June 3rd, 2024 Subcontractors Only (10:00 a.m. click here; 1:00 p.m. click here) and June 5th, 2024 Prime Contractors Only (10:00 a.m. click here; 1:00 p.m. click here). Registration is now open. For additional information contact the MDOT's Office of Small & Minority Business Policy (OSMBP) at mdotmbeoutreach@mdot.maryland.gov or 410-865-1298.

Question Title

* 34.
PROVIDING YOUR NAME AND BUSINESS INFORMATION IS OPTIONAL. IF YOU PREFER TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, PLEASE STOP HERE.

T