From the Dallas South News News Wire (North Texas Tollway Authority)
At its regularly scheduled board meeting tomorrow, the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) will announce the final participants of its Relationships and Opportunities Advancing Diversity (ROAD) pilot program in an effort to build partnerships that strengthen capacity and promote diverse participation in NTTA contracting opportunities.
Through the pilot program, which was launched in December 2009, the NTTA is working to increase the number of disadvantaged, minority and women-owned business enterprises (D/M/WBE) participating on larger contracts by facilitating a relationship between D/M/WBE and prime contractors that offer similar services so the participants are able to enhance their expertise. D/M/WBEs will benefit from opportunities to develop their business management, organization and professional skills through partnerships with established contractors. Prime contracting firms will benefit from the engagement of D/M/WBEs on key projects and the different perspectives they bring to contracts.
“The NTTA is committed to responsible stewardship of the resources as we work to provide mobility solutions for North Texas,” said Allen Clemson, NTTA Executive Director. “These partnerships will help participants enhance their skill set as it relates to transportation and as they bid on larger projects.”
The first team consists of prime contractor Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP, and Taylor Law Firm, P.C. Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell specializes in right-of-way; labor employee benefits; environmental; and other outside counsel work, while Taylor Law Firm specializes in corporate law, tax law, real estate law, litigation management, labor and employment.
The second team consists of prime contractor PBS&J and Urban Engineers. Both are engineering firms with PBS&J specializing on consulting, and Urban Engineers specializing in civil engineering and traffic design.
The third team consists of prime contractor HNTB Corporation, general engineering consultant, and AZ&B Inc. HNTB specializes in architecture, engineering, planning, environmental, and program management, while AZ&B specializes in highway design and surveying.
The fourth team consists of prime contractor HDR and the Salcedo Group, Inc. HDR is a design and program management firm, while the Salcedo Group specializes in surveying and civil design.
The fifth team consists of prime contractor Jacobs Engineering and IEA, Inc. Jacobs’ specialties include transportation design, corridor management/program, maintenance/asset manager and environmental services, while IEA specializes in civil engineering.
The final team consists of prime contractor Prairie Link Constructors and Vendigm Construction, LLC. Prairie Link’s specialties in transportation construction, including bridge structures, concrete paving, and retaining walls. Vendigm is a construction company specializing in concrete work and concrete restoration.
“The ROAD Program creates an environment that provides D/M/WBE’s the opportunity to participate on larger heavy highway projects. In addition, these businesses will gain valuable experience while growing the capacity of their company,” said Reginald Gates, president of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the NTTA’s Business Diversity Advisory Council—a group of business and community leaders who advise the NTTA’s Business Diversity Department in its efforts to encourage the participation of minority, women, small and disadvantaged business enterprises in NTTA contract opportunities.
Those interested in future participation can contact the NTTA’s Business Diversity Department at 214-461-2007.
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