Report 2013-115 Recommendation 6 Responses

Report 2013-115: Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program: Meaningful Performance Standards and Better Guidance by the California Departments of General Services and Veterans Affairs Would Strengthen the Program (Release Date: February 2014)

Recommendation #6 To: Transportation, Department of

To ensure it has maximized the effectiveness of the DVBE incentive, Caltrans should implement measures to help ensure that it applies the DVBE incentive to all applicable contracts and procurements and that these measures include documented policies and procedures and/or training to procurement staff on properly applying the DVBE incentive.

1-Year Agency Response

Caltrans implemented the training on October 31, 2014, and as of March 2015, all appropriate Caltrans staff have taken the new training. Caltrans issued a new policy in March 2015, (Information Bulletin 15-03) requiring all staff involved in the contract and/or procurement evaluation process to complete the training module every two years. The policy also requires that new staff complete the training within 30 days from the hire date. The training is offered in eLearning format and available on the Division of Procurement and Contract's intranet page at: http://admin.dot.ca.gov/pc/training-shtml

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

Caltrans supervisors continue to review procurement packages to ensure the DVBE incentive application process is properly applied. Caltrans' Division of Procurement and Contracts and the Office of Business and Economic Opportunity are partnering to develop the DVBE incentive training for all procurement staff. Training materials will be complete by September 30, 2014, and staff training will begin by October 15, 2014. Caltrans is on track for completion and implementation by October 31, 2014.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

Caltrans supervisors review procurement packages to ensure the DVBE incentive is properly applied. Caltrans is in the process of developing training modules to provide procurement staff instructions on the DVBE incentive application process.

Corrective action partially implemented; training will be completed by October 31, 2014.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2013-115

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.