How to do Business with Regional Transit

The fifth annual How to Do Business with Regional Transit (RT) event was held on
July 30, 2008 in RT’s auditorium. The capacity crowd of small businesses had the opportunity to learn details of imminent RT projects, contact information for the responsible personnel at RT, and hear about RT’s proposed small business program. The event was co-hosted by RT and The Federal Technology Center (The FTC).

Mike Wiley, General Manager/CEO for RT, opened the event by stating that RT’s policy at all levels is to maximize small business opportunities through its contracts. In support of this policy, Fernando Barcena, Senior Procurement and DBE Administrator for RT, introduced RT’s proposal for an aggressive new small business program. Due for a final vote by the RT Board of Directors in September of 2008, the program will create one of the strongest small business programs in public transit.

Other guest speakers included Roberta MacGlashan, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, District 4, and Chair of the RT Board of Directors, who discussed how the RT Board ensures that contracts give fair
consideration to small business and reminded those in attendance to take an interest in public transit issues because “public transportation brings customers and employees to your place of business.” Derrin Jourdan, representing the Federal Transit Administration, District IX, encouraged eligible vendors to apply for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification. Ann Blazina and Jerone Edwards of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) discussed Caltrans’ DBE program and announced approximately 195 upcoming projects with a total budget of $1.5 billion. Michael Aguillio, California Department of General Services Procurement Division, gave pointers on how to become certified by the State as a small business, which will be the foundation for the new RT small business program. Bill Teeple, Senior
Counselor/Instructor with The FTC, taught a class entitled, Doing Business with RT, designed to help contractors understand RT’s procurement processes and procedures.

New to this year’s program were panel discussions with RT Project Managers and
Procurement Professionals, who explained their areas of responsibility, discussed their upcoming projects, and described how they work together as a team. Question and answer sessions and networking opportunities ensured access to these key RT professionals. Featured projects included the Downtown-Natomas-Airport Project, the South Sacramento Corridor Phase II Project, the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project and the Bus Maintenance Facility 2 Project, and ongoing operational needs.

To learn more about doing business with RT, plan to attend the next networking event presented by Regional Transit and The FTC, the 5th Annual Regional Transit Primes & Subcontractors Conference on
January 29, 2009. For more information
and to register, Click Here.