NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Participation in Federal Aviation Administration Funded Contracts

[35 Pa.B. 3629]

   Under the authority contained in the Transportation Act for the 21st Century, act of June 9, 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-178, 112 Stat. 113 (23 U.S.C.A. § 101), and in keeping with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 26 (relating to participation by disadvantaged business enterprises in Department of Transportation financial assistance programs), the Department of Transportation (Department) provides public notice of its 2006 goal for participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in its Federally assisted contracts.

   Pending receipt of public comments, the Department's 2006 goal is a work in progress.

   As a recipient of Federal funds from the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) through its agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department must comply with the goal setting provisions of the US DOT DBE regulation, set forth in 49 CFR Part 26, effective March 4, 1999. The Department is mandated to submit a methodology and goal for Federally assisted contracts in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 26.45 and 26.51 (relating to how do recipients set overall goals; and what means do recipients use to meet overall goals). The methodology and goal must be submitted to the FAA by August 1, 2005. An important part of this process is providing notice to the public concerning the methodology used to arrive at the final goal and affording the public the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed goal.

   To comply with the goal setting provisions of the DBE regulation, the Department employed the two-step process outlined in 49 CFR 26.45. Under step-1, the Department created a baseline goal using the goals of subrecipient airports. The first step in identifying qualifying recipients was to determine which recipients had received Airport Improvement Grants. The Department created ''working goals'' for each subrecipient airport for the purpose of computing a Department-wide baseline goal.

   The Department calculated step-1 by calculating the ratio of DBE contractors to all contractors able to perform the pertinent work type at each subrecipient airport. When these goals are weighted according to the amount of Federal moneys they receive, they yield the step-1 baseline goal.

   Under step-2 of the goal setting process, the Department examined all relevant evidence in its jurisdiction to determine what adjustments, up or down, were needed to arrive at the overall goal. Step-2 necessarily took into account other conditions or variables impacting DBEs in this Commonwealth including each airport's track record in utilizing DBE firms in the past. As part of the adjustment phase, the Department gave due consideration to the specific types of work being contracted under the various AIG block grants.

   Consistent with the public participation requirement for this process, the Department is making the proposed 2006 methodology and goal available for inspection and review for 45 days from the date of this notice. The Department considers the methodology and goal a work in progress pending input from the public. To review the DBE goal documents, contact any of the following locations:

Bureau of Equal Opportunity
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street, 5th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 787-5891
Attn.:  Jocelyn I. Harper

Engineering District 1-0
255 Elm Street, P. O. Box 398
Oil City, PA 16301-398
(814) 678-7105
Attn.:  William G. Petit, P. E.

Engineering District 2-0
1924-30 Daisy Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
(814) 765-0400
Attn.:  Kevin R. Kline, P. E.

Engineering District 3-0
715 Jordan Avenue
Montoursville, PA 17754
(570) 368-8686
Attn.:  James A. Kendter, P. E.

Engineering District 4-0
O'Neill Highway, P. O. Box 111
Dunmore, PA 18512
(570) 963-4061
Attn.:  Stephen J. Shimko, P. E.

Engineering District 5-0
1713 Lehigh Street
Allentown, PA 18103
(610) 798-4100
Attn.:  Amar C. Bhajandas, P. E.

Engineering District 6-0
7000 Geerdes Blvd.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 205-6660
Attn.:  Andrew L. Warren

Engineering District 8-0
2140 Herr Street
Harrisburg, PA 17103-1699
(717) 787-6653
Attn.:  Barry G. Hoffman, P. E.

Engineering District 9-0
North Juniata Street, P. O. Box 69
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
(814) 696-7250
Attn.:  Thomas A. Prestash, P. E.

Engineering District 10-0
250 Oakland Avenue, P. O. Box 429
Indiana, PA 15701
(724) 357-2806
Attn.:  Richard H. Hogg, P. E.

Engineering District 11-0
45 Thoms Run Road
Bridgeville, PA 15017
(412) 429-5001
Attn.:  H. Daniel Cessna, P. E.

Engineering District 12-0
N. Gallatine Avenue Ext., P. O. Box 459
Uniontown, PA 15401-0459
(724) 439-7340
Attn.:  Joseph J. Szczur, P. E.

   The document can also be reviewed at the following website: http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/pasdc/dot/.

   Comments, questions or suggestions regarding this notice should be directed in writing to Jocelyn I. Harper, Director, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, P. O. Box 3251, Harrisburg, PA 17105-3251, (717) 787-5891, fax (717) 772-4026.

   Comments should be postmarked by August 9, 2005, for consideration.

ALLEN D. BIEHLER, P. E.,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-1233. Filed for public inspection June 24, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]

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