AASHTO National Transportation Civil Rights Conference
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 22, 2006

Presented by:
Frederick D. Isler
Associate Administrator for Civil Rights

Office of Civil Rights’ (OCR) Major Programs

OCR implements 6 major programs -- ensuring all persons share in the benefits of our transportation investments:

• Title VI
• Americans with Disability Act/504
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and DBE Supportive Services
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) and OJT Supportive Services
• Contractor Compliance
• State Internal Equal Employee Opportunity

Civil Rights Toolkit

A Key Strategy for Improving Program Effectiveness

• Developed for each major civil rights program area. Each toolkit contains…
  • Technical Assistance Handbook (contains: Technical Assistance Self-evaluation, Questions and Answers, Applicable Authorities)
  • Desk Reference (contains: Technical Assistance Guide, Applicable Authorities, Policies and Procedures, “How To” Samples)
• Brochure
• CD-ROM (contains: all of what is contained in the Handbook, Desk Reference, and Brochure, and a PowerPoint of Self-Evaluation)
• Each toolkit will be on FHWA’s OCR website… http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/civilrights/index.htm

DBE Workgroup

Assessment Tool Overview

• Charged with designing a practical, user-friendly, web-based instrument (tool) allowing FHWA and State Transportation Agencies (STAs) to assess administration of their DBE program
• Focus of effort: Determining the impact of risk on core program elements
• Using the Tool:
  • To efficiently direct FHWA/State assets and resources to address areas at greatest risk of fraud, abuse, inefficiency, non-compliance, and litigation
  • Contains series of questions with easily measurable answers
    • If completed by Division Offices and STAs, can provide insight into administration of DBE program
    • A web-based format suitable for the centralized data collection and analysis at Headquarters Civil Rights
• Workgroup has revised and refined the tool, incorporating feedback from 8 States participating in a field test: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, New York, and North Carolina
• Benefits highlighted:
  • Useful in identifying DBE Program strengths and weaknesses
  • Enabled more effective and efficient deployment of resources in areas requiring enhanced oversight
  • Complements or substitutes traditional peer review
  • Appropriate questions to assess risk, fraud, noncompliance, etc.
  • Compatible with FHWA’s program assessment capabilities
  • Created open dialogue between FHWA and STAs

Expected Outcomes of FHWA/OCR’s Activities

• Tools and guides will create consistency and efficiency
• Will bring about more accountability in overall implementation of our civil rights programs
• Will allow FHWA and its stakeholders to maximize use of shared resources
• Will allow exploration of new ways to integrate civil rights into mainstream of overall transportation program
• Will improve on the way we do business!

Pilot Business Opportunity and Workforce Development (BOWD) Centers

• OCR promoting partnerships to maximize existing resources to enhance effectiveness of DBE and OJT programs
• OCR encouraging STAs to partner with…
  • Prime contractors
  • Minority colleges and universities
  • Community-based organizations
  • DBE community…
    • To establish a Pilot BOWD Center

Purpose of BOWD Centers

• Provide targeted assistance to help develop underutilized DBEs who are ready, willing, and able to compete for and perform on Federal-aid highway contracts
• Centers serve as resources to recruit, hire and assist highway contractors with meeting OJT requirements and develop their workforce