Tag Archives: dbe

hospital

DBE, WBE, SCTRCA, Tex Dot Austin Texas

hospital
Another of 12 new hospitals in Central Texas…and more being planned.

Austin Texas has lots of DBE and WBE projects currently under construction and more on the way.  San Antonio has even more.  As federal money filters into the state and state money filters into various counties and projects, more and more complicated procedures are evolving for the mandated use of WBE, DBE and other “HUB” type businesses.  The population of the State of Texas is growing and growing rapidly.  Infrastructure additions and updates are falling behind.  Texas will be building hospitals, libraries, schools, university and community college projects and roads and bridges, at a much faster than average pace for the next 20 + years. Most if not all these projects will have a component of their overall cost dedicated to Historically Underutilized Businesses.  These “HUB” businesses will need various certifications including DBE status, WBE status and the list goes on, to fill the need that is produced by the many DBE set-aside requirements.  These certifications, designated by various agencies and services, allow General Contractors to meet their set aside needs in order to qualify to bid for projects that involve public sector funding.  Sometimes this funding is complex and the tracking of various set aside qualifications and requirements can be even more tenuous.

Austin DBE vendors as well as Austin WBE vendors are a critical part of the public project construction process and more, quality vendors are needed every day.  Being certified by by Tex Dot or SCTRCA as an Austin WBE or Austin DBE is the first step that is critical and for that matter, mandatory if you want to be included in the set asides for large highway and public works contractors.

Given the population growth forecasts for the greater Austin area, not to mention San Antonio, it is easy to understand why the need for quality, reliable and honest WBE and DBE vendors has risen so sharply.

DLB Industries LLC, is one such Austin DBE and Austin WBE, certified by Tex Dot that has enjoyed a fine reputation as a quality vendor to many General Contractors and Sub Contractors for over 13 years.  Centrally located near the UT campus, DLB staff can be anywhere in Central Texas in a matter of minutes to inspect a job site, monitor the delivery of materials or assess DBE or WBE involvement and costs.

DLB

WBE- What’s the big deal?

So What’s a WBE?

Given that there is more and more talk about WBEs these days and that that trend is likely to continue, you might want to make sure you know and understand a little bit about WBEs…..if you are doing or planning to do business with a local, county, state or other governmental entity.   WBE Certification stands for Woman Business Enterprise and denotes that a woman (or women) has majority ownership and control of a business entity. The NWBOC (National Women Business Owners Corporation)  WBE Certification Program is not an endorsement of applicant’s goods, services, pricing, or profitability.  But it does signify two, very important ideas:

 First: Most local and national government purchasing agencies track and/or have programs for doing business with women business owners. Having WBE Certification is the only way the purchasing agents have confidence that a business representing itself as woman-owned is, in fact, woman-owned and controlled.

DBE pic 1

Second: Many publicly-held corporations, as well as larger private corporations, also track and have programs for doing business with women-owned vendor companies. They, too, rely on WBE Certification.

Currently, the 5% federal goal was established in 2000 with the Women’s Equity in Contracting Act that gave the contracting office the ability to restrict competition for women-owned firms that have WBE Certification — up to 5% of all contracts. The intent of this program is to encourage procurement officers to utilize women-owned firms at a higher level in both the number of firms awarded contracts and the dollar amounts awarded to them.  (NWBOC 2015)

DLB Industries LLC, a certified HUB with WBE, DBE, MBE, SCTRCA and many other certifications is very proud to be have been involved with such designations for over 10 years and understands the need based reasons that have propelled such certifications into the foreground of “government/municipal” projects.   Diana Lerma Bounds Austin Texas, the founder and 100% owner of DLB Industries LLC  is also very much aware that DBE /WBE companies and vendors are generally needed to help larger groups or companies fulfil their set-aside needs and, as such, strives to perform the tasks needed in the most efficient, legal, ethical and economical way possible.  “We want to get it done, document it and move on in the most hassle free manner possible…..our best days are the days our client don’t need to communicate with us”.

 Diana Lerma Bounds  Austin Texas