Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 28, 2009

Comment period for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program goal begins

Public invited to comment on federal fiscal year 2010 goal

Metro is inviting the public to comment on its annual Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program goal for federal fiscal year 2010. The 45-day public comment period begins today and runs through July 13, and includes a public meeting in June.

The proposed federal fiscal year 2010 DBE goal of the anticipated federally-supported contracts awarded by Metro is 25 percent.

Comments should be sent to the DBE/Contract Compliance Office, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Suite 8D-09, Washington, DC 20001, or emailed to dbe@wmata.com. Metro will accept comments until 3 p.m. Monday, July 13.

In addition, a public meeting for businesses, agencies, officials and interested individuals to offer their comments will be held at Metro headquarters (600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC) on Friday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants planning on attending the meeting are asked to register in advance by emailing dbe@wmata.com by Friday, June 19.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires agencies such as Metro to submit an annual DBE goal as part of its federal transportation grant funding request process. Metro must submit its goal to the FTA by August 1.

Metro’s DBE program seeks to provide an equal opportunity for disadvantaged business enterprises to compete for and participate on Metro contracts and subcontracts. One of its major goals is to assist firms that can compete on an equal footing in the marketplace outside the DBE program. For more information about Metro’s DBE program visit, http://www.wmata.com/business/disadvantaged_business_enterprise/.

Media contact for this news release: Cathy Asato or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.

News release issued at 3:16 pm, May 28, 2009.