Civil Rights
Welcome to the Intercounty Connector Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program website.
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) understands that living its vision of providing its customers with a world-class highway system includes honoring its commitments to its partners by providing contracting opportunities which include and reflect the rich diversity of the Maryland community. SHA's comprehensive DBE program provides a variety of services to approximately 1,500 businesses, both prime and subcontractors, in the areas of outreach, business assistance, contract compliance, and on-the-job training.
The ICC project will require a broad variety of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) with capacity in many design services and construction trades within the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan regions. Because of the large number of active, major construction projects in the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan regions, the ICC Project Team has developed an aggressive DBE outreach, business assistance, and contract compliance program in order to identify and successfully engage as many DBEs as possible in the design and trade areas needed for the project.
The ICC also has an on-the-job training program aimed at developing full journeyperson status for minorities and women in the highway construction industry. This program is designed to enhance skills in individuals for a particular craft, and to maintain an adequate number of journeypersons in the industry.
The ICC Project Team is fully committed to assuring an open and fair opportunity for DBEs to participate in the business opportunities provided by the ICC project.
The DBE Program is in full compliance with the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) governing DBEs, as set forth at 49 CFR 26, and other Federal Highway Administration authorities.
The ICC Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is designed to provide oversight, guidance, and assistance to DBEs working on the ICC project, and to those who are interested in working on the project. Services to DBEs include, but are not limited to, providing:
- assessments of DBEs by specialty trade (NAICS codes)
- facilitation of contacts with prime contractors and major subcontractors working on the project, as appropriate
- a direct link to the Directory of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) currently certified by the Maryland Department of Transportation
- a list of ICC prime Design-Build contractors and subcontractors
- a roster of firms that have attended various ICC presentations, informational briefings, and other outreach events
- identification and publication of the DBE opportunities in each contract
- regular contact with resource, trade, and business organizations to assure awareness of opportunities on the project and to facilitate referrals among interested parties
- advance notification about outreach events, such as contract-specific Informational Meetings, procurement fairs, and conferences designed to build capacity and to enhance the availability of information about the ICC project.
- business assistance, including: resource referrals; Maryland DBE certification assistance; business development, insurance, bonding, financing, estimating, bidding, and contracting techniques; and special requirements associated with Design-Build contracting
- a comprehensive contract compliance and monitoring system to assess overall progress in achieving DBE participation goals
The ICC Project Team's primary point of contact for Civil Rights and DBE information is Marvin Eason, ICC Civil Rights Manager, Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). If you have questions or concerns, or would like to have additional information, contact Marvin Eason at MEason@iccproject.com, or by telephone at 301.586.9286.
For further information about the ICC DBE program, please refer to the DBE-oriented brochure entitled: The ICC Starts Here: Your Road to Opportunity.