OBD&EO

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I have to be certified as a MBE, WBE or DBE before I can do business with DRPA or PATCO?

A.

No, you do not have to be a certified MBE, WBE or DBE before you can do business with the DRPA or PATCO. We encourage anyone interested in doing business with us to complete a Vendor Profile Form. If, however, the Authority has established participation goals for MBEs, WBEs or DBEs on a project and you are interested in participating on the project as a subcontractor, subconsultant, or supplier the bidder/proposer is required to submit an MBE/WBE/DBE plan with its bid/proposal. Under the terms of the program, the bidder/proposer will not receive credit for identifying a non-certified MBE/WBE/DBE firm as part of its team. To receive credit, the MBE, WBE or DBE firm must be certified at the time the bidder/proposer submits its bid/proposal to DRPA for consideration.

Q. Does the DRPA certify firms as MBEs, WBEs, DBEs or SBEs?

A.

No, the DRPA's Office of Business Development & Equal Opportunity does not certify firms as MBEs, WBEs, DBEs or SBEs. However the DRPA will accept M/W/DBE certifications performed by various federal, state and local entities. The DRPA accepts current certifications performed by:


	1.	Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Penn DOT)
	2.	Allegheny County M/W/DBE Department
	3.	Port Authority of Allegheny County
	4.	The City of Philadelphia Minority Business Enterprise Council (MBEC)
	5.	Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
	6.	Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services
	7.	State of New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development
	8.	New Jersey Transit
	9.	The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
	10.	The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJ DOT)
	11.	The City of Camden
	12.	Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)/Women's Business Development Center (WBDC)
	13.	National Minority Supplier Development Corporation (NMSDC)
	14.	The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
		and other United States Department of Transportation-approved certifying agencies

Q. Does your agency have a M-W-SBE Directory?

A.

The Office of Business Development & Equal Opportunity maintains one directory that identifies certified MBEs, WBEs, SBEs and Veteran-Owned companies. The directory notes the following information for each company:

firm name
contact person
address
telephone number
fax number (where known)
e-mail address (where known)
type of work the firm has been certified to perform
NAICS codes (where known)
certification status (i.e. MBE, WBE or DBE)
certifying entity
certification expiration date

Questions about the directory may be directed to our office at (856) 968-2270 or (215) 218-3750, ext. 2270

Q. How do I begin the process of doing business with DRPA and PATCO?

A.

If you are a vendor and want to do business with the DRPA and or PATCO, please complete the DRPA/PATCO Vendor Profile Form and return it to the address at the bottom of the form. Once we receive your completed company profile it will be included in DRPA's vendor database. Vendors holding current MBE, WBE and/or DBE certifications will be added to the OBD&EO M/W/DBE directory.

Contractors and professional consultants interested in doing business with DRPA or PATCO should send a brochure, along with your firms certification information, to the Office of Business Development & Equal Opportunity, at One Port Center, 9th Floor, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08101, c/o Director.

When requested, OBD&EO will facilitate meetings between company representatives and appropriate staff member(s) at DRPA and PATCO to assist you in your effort to connect with the appropriate department/office.