Effective March 4, 1999, the Department of Transportation (DOT) adopted a final Rule implementing changes to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 26, which mandated new requirements for participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBEs”) in DOT-assisted contracts, for Houston Airport System projects, and if applicable, Houston Public Works projects. Substantial changes in federal regulations required enactment of Ordinance 99-893 to comply with the revised federal requirements for DOT-assisted contracts. The City is not eligible to receive DOT financial assistance unless it is in compliance with these federal regulations.
Changes in the Code of Federal Regulations, adopted in February 2010, required all recipients who receive more than $250,000 in federal funds to establish a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Plan and set triennial Goals for federally-assisted projects. In 2016, City Council approved the City’s current Federal Fiscal Years 2017 – 2019 DBE overall contract Goal.
The Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), in cooperation with the Houston Airport System (HAS), have analyzed the relevant criteria required by federal authorities, and set an overall DBE Goal of 32% for George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), 31% for William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and an overall DBE Goal of 31% for Ellington Field Airport for the 2020 – 2022 Federal Fiscal Years subject to the approval of DOT/FAA. The federal criteria and the proposed Goals were presented to the Economic Development Council Committee on October 17, 2019.
OBO and HAS recommends adoption of the Motion for the referenced DBE Goals in order to comply with federal requirements.
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Marsha E. Murray, Interim Director