Doing Business with Votran

There are often many opportunities for you to do business with Votran. Visit the Volusia County Purchasing Division to search for any open Volusia County bids.

Page updated: March 19, 2024

Request for Proposals and Professional Services Bids

Gateway Outdoor  Advertising 
Kevin Hahn - Market Manager
khahn@gatewayoutdoor.com
Telephone: (386) 295-5544
Fax: (908) 684-8122

Advertising on Bus Stop Shelters and Benches

  Outdoor Media

Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE)

Volusia County Transit Services Division, d.b.a. Votran, is a service of Volusia County Government. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is a comprehensive program developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), which establishes guidelines for the participation of firms owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged persons in DOT – assisted contracting. As a recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Department of Transportation and as a condition of receiving this assistance, Votran has signed an assurance that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26.

FDOT DBE Certification Peer Review July 2018

Votran’s DBE Program Objectives

It is the policy of Votran to ensure that DBEs as defined in Part 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT–assisted contracts. It is also our policy: 

1. To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT – assisted contracts;
2. To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT – assisted contracts;
3. To ensure that the DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
4. To ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs;
5. To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT assisted contracts;
6. To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the market place outside the DBE Program. 

Votran has disseminated this policy statement to all of the components of our organization. We have distributed this statement to DBE and non-DBE business communities that perform work for us on DOT assisted contracts. 

DBE Program Goals

As a recipient of USDOT funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Votran administers a DBE Program, in accordance with 49 CFR Part 26, to ensure nondiscrimination in the award of USDOT-assisted contracts and create a level playing field on which certified DBEs can compete for those contracts.  While the DBE program includes fostering small business participation, only DBEs certified by the Florida Unified Certification Program are eligible to participate as DBEs. Votran is a local agency that certifies DBEs.

Votran has established a goal of 5.2% DBE participation on USDOT funded projects for FY2024-2026.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

A DBE is a for profit small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged (owned or controlled by one or more minority persons). A minority is generally defined as an individual who is generally defined as an individual who is African-American, Hispanic American, Asian-American, Native American, a woman or a disabled person. The Federal DBE program also includes Alaskan Natives, Pacific Islanders and persons who are not minorities but who are socially and economically disadvantaged in its definition. The socially and economically disadvantaged owners must demonstrate longstanding, chronic and substantial disadvantage since the business is not owned by persons in the cited minority group.

Click here to view the current DBE plan.

DBE Program Eligibility Requirements

Owner(s) must own 51 percent of the firm and be a member(s) of one of the following groups:

• Women (Regardless of race)
• Black Americans
• Hispanic Americans
• Native Americans
• Asian-Pacific Americans
• Subcontinent Asian Americans

Any additional groups whose members are designated as socially and economically disadvantaged by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and has a personal net worth not to exceed $1.32 million (minus the individual’s ownership interest in the applicant firm and his or her equity in their primary business).

DBE Policy Statement

DBE Application

Florida Unified Certification Program Members

Reference Links

To search for DBE firms, please click the link below to access Florida's DBE Directory. Be sure to check the status of the firms listed in the directory as the directory also contains MBEs and OBEs.   Example: UCP Cert. DBE.

Certified DBE firms State of Florida Directory FDOT

North American Industry Classification System NAICS

United States Code of Federal Regulations-DBE 49 CFR Part 26

Small Business Administration SBA Definitions

Small Business Administration SBA Size Standards

Florida Financial Institutions - Minority Owned 

For questions regarding Votran's DBE program, please contact Ralf Heseler, Transit Planning Manager & DBE Liason Officer at (386) 257-6000 ext. 18805.

PURCHASING PROCEDURES

Specific requirements and procedures have been established in the form of a law, Volusia County Code, Chapter 2, Article 6, Division 2, which governs the purchase of all goods and services required and used by VOTRAN.

Further more, Votran is a recipient of federal funds distributed through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). As such, a contractor shall not perform any act, or refuse to comply with any request which would cause Votran to be in violation of the FTA terms and conditions on the use of federal funds. Contractor receiving federal funds must conform to applicable Federal law.  Procurement checklist by commodity type are listed below.  These checklist provide a guide to the clauses that are applicable to that type of purchase with suggested or mandatory required language.  These laws include the following, but are not limited to these:

Federal Procurement

• Tile 2, Part 200 Code of Federal Regulations
  • https://www.govregs.com/regulations/title2_chapterII
• FTA Procurement Circular 4220.1F
  • https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/Third%20Party%20Contracting%20Guidance%20%28Circular%204220.1F%29.pdf
• System for Awards Management (SAMS)
  • https://sam.gov/SAM/

Procurement Checklist for: (Click on item to download)

• Material and Supplies
• Construction
• Rolling Stock
• Professional Services
• Operations/Management Service

Clicking on the above links will allow you to see regulations and clauses.

For purchasing questions, please contact Ralf Heseler, Transit Planning Manager at (386) 257-6000 ext. 18805.