MBE and WBE Programs

Minority and Women Business Enterprises

It is the policy of KCATA that minority and/or women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) have fair and equitable opportunity to participate in KCATA locally based procurements. To implement this policy, KCATA is continually seeking M/WBE firms. As of January 22, 2020, KCATA has implemented a locally based DBE program establishing M/WBE subcontracting goals for non-FTA funded projects. KCATA has established an overall MBE goal for non-FTA funded projects and a WBE goal for non-FTA funded projects.

It is also KCATA’s policy:

  1. To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of non-FTA funded contracts;
  2. To create a level playing field on which MBEs and WBEs can compete fairly for non-FTA funded contracts;
  3. To ensure that the MBE/WBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
  4. To ensure that only firms that fully meet MBE/WBE eligibility standards are permitted to participate as MBEs and WBEs;
  5. To help remove barriers to the participation of MBEs and WBEs in non-FTA funded contracts; and
  6. To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside of the MBE/WBE Program.

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)/Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) Online Certification Process

There are two different ways to become MBE/WBE certified with KCATA:

Step 1: Standard Certification (Please allow at least 90 days for entire process, once staff has received all required documents)

  1. Complete and submit the KCATA MBE/WBE Certification Application along with required supporting documents to KCATA’s Diversity Compliance System. The applicant must first create a login with B2Gnow and then register as a vendor with KCATA.
  2. Your application and documents will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy. If we need to collect additional documents, we will notify you.
  3. If your application is complete and we have no further questions, our office will contact you for an Onsite Review Visit (Onsite visits apply to Missouri firms only). If you are an out-of-state firm, you will need to seek MBE/WBE certification with an agency in your home state. 
  4. After the onsite review and all information has been collected, the application will be reviewed in its entirety to determine the firm’s eligibility to participate in the program.
  5. A final determination will be made, and the applicant firm will be notified in writing regarding the decision. If the firm is approved for certification, the applicant will receive a letter of certification and certificate valid for three years. KCATA reserves the right to require an Annual Update Form along with supporting documentation during the three-year certification.  When KCATA denies a request for MBE/WBE certification by a firm that is not currently certified, it will provide the firm a written explanation of the reasons for the denial, specifically referencing the evidence in the record that supports each reason for the denial.  The applicant will have to wait one year to reapply for MBE/WBE certification. All documents and other information on which the denial is based will be made available to the applicant upon request.

Step 2: Streamlined Certification (Please allow at least 30-60 days once staff has received all required documents)

This process applies only to applicants whose principal place of business is in Missouri or Kansas and have been certified as an MBE/WBE by one of the following approved certifying entities:

Applicants must still meet the regulations of KCATA’s MBE/WBE program. Certification by one of the programs listed above does not guarantee acceptance by KCATA. If the applicant is approved for certification, the certificate will be valid for three years.

An applicant must complete the MBE/WBE Certification Application and submit the required documentation including a copy of the applicant’s current certificate that has at least 90 days before its expiration date.  A notarized affidavit signed by the applicant should be uploaded to KCATA Diversity Compliance System with the required documents to complete the application process. The applicant is required to retain the original documents for their records.

If approved, the certification will last for three years.  KCATA reserves the right to require an Annual Update Form along with supporting documentation during the three-year certification for any reason.

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)/Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) Procurement Policy

KCATA will not tolerate false, fraudulent, or dishonest conduct in connection with the program(s).  In the event a firm is determined non-compliant with the MBE/WBE regulations during a procurement, it may be subject to remedies including withholding of further payments from KCATA and/or termination of the contract.

Requests for Proposals/Bids issued by KCATA include notification to all proposing contractors that MBEs/WBEs will be given the full opportunity to submit proposals as prime contractors or subcontractors and that KCATA will not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or disability in consideration for an award. The instructions to proposed contractors state that all proposing contractors must be in compliance with the requirements with regard to the participation of MBEs/WBEs.

KCATA will verify that the work committed to MBEs/WBEs at contract award is actually performed by the MBEs/WBEs performing a commercially useful function. KCATA will monitor MBE/WBE attainments (e.g., payments actually made to MBE/WBE firms) and ensure that MBE/WBE participation is credited toward overall or contract goals only when payments are actually made to MBE/WBE firms.

KCATA requires its prime contractors to make Good-Faith-Efforts to replace an MBE/WBE subcontractor that is unable to perform successfully with another MBE/WBE. KCATA must be notified in advance and approve all substitutions of subcontractors, in order to ensure that the substitute firms are certified MBEs/WBEs.

KCATA shall advise each sub-recipient, contractor, or subcontractor that failure to carry out the requirements set forth in the required contract provisions shall constitute a breach of contract and may result in termination of the agreement or contract by KCATA or such remedy as KCATA deems appropriate.

KCATA will maintain records and reports which are necessary to monitor compliance with the program. KCATA utilizes the B2Gnow software to track purchases and disbursements for active contracts. This information is used to prepare MBE/WBE reporting information.