We, the
undersigned U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recipients, do hereby agree
to participate in a Unified Certification Program, as required by 49 CFR Part
26.81. This Agreement includes all DOT
recipients and subrecipients in the State of
The State of
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD), the New Orleans Metropolitan
Certifying Agency (NOMCA), the Alexandria International Airport through the
England Economic and Industrial Development District, and the City of
Shreveport have been identified as agencies authorized to provide certification
services in the State of
Region 1 - The
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development may certify any
firm doing business in the State of
Region 2 - The
Region 3 - The
Region 4 - The
City of
The LAUCP makes the following
representations:
1.
The
LAUCP agrees to follow all certification procedures and standards of 49 CFR
Part 26, Subpart E on the same basis as recipients. Further, it will cooperate fully with oversight,
review and monitoring activities of DOT and its operating administrations. All obligations of recipients with respect to
certification and non-discrimination will be carried out by the LAUCP.
2. All direct recipients of DOT
funds in
3. LAUCP requires all certifications to be pre-certifications in that certifications will be made final before the due date for bids or offers on a contract on which a firm seeks to participate as a DBE.
4. Sufficient resources and expertise will be made available to allow LAUCP to carry out the responsibilities contained herein. Each Certifying Agency will bear its individual and joint costs in a fair and equitable manner. Each Certifying Agency will continue to bear its owns costs, such as site visits, travel expenses and administrative costs. The LA DOTD will bear the cost of creating the LAUCP’s web site.
a. LAUCP has developed an implementation schedule ensuring that the UCP is fully operational no later than 18 months following the approval of the agreement by the Secretary. LAUCP will meet on a monthly basis to ensure a seamless integration of the program. A Program Evaluation Review Technique (Pert) chart is attached as Exhibit D.
Ø Create Standardized Form Letters
Ø Notification to Recipients re process
Ø Final Design of Software
Ø Purchase and Installation of Hardware
Ø Integrate directory databases
Ø Site visit to Certifying Agencies for systems inspection, training and technical assistance
Ø Evaluation and Report of Systems (12 month)
5. A firm that does not have its principal place
of business in
6. The
participants in
One database will be
established that will tie all four agencies together. The DOTD will bear the
cost for the main server for the system.
Each Certifying Agency will be responsible for purchasing its own
hardware. The LAUCP will be responsible
for the development of the software. The
cost of the software will be developed and paid for jointly. Each Certifying Agency will update all
information on the files that it processes although DOTD will be responsible
for hosting the information.
Access/Security levels
are as follows:
·
Level I - Each
certifying agency will be able to access its files for updates and posting of
real time information, and will be able to access all files for status review.
·
Level 2 – Each
recipient will be able to access for status review.
·
Level 3 – Any
user will be able to access the unified directory that will have real time
updates of certification status.
Program Features:
·
Daily updates
for recipients
·
Newsletter/Resource
information for the general public
·
Upcoming
Projects
·
Contracts
Awarded/ News postings
·
Links to
recipient web pages
Centralized information
will be posted and maintained by DOTD.
Individual file information such as annual updates, site visit reports, recertifications, and decertifications
will be posted and maintained by each Certifying Agency. Each Certifying Agency shall have full access
to the certification file of any applicant or certified firm within the
program. Decisions will be communicated
to applicants and recipients within fourteen calendar days via
The LAUCP membership is defined as one member
from each DOT recipient in the State of
The Executive
Committee shall ensure uniformity among the Certifying Agencies and shall make
recommendations for amendments/revisions to the UCP Agreement or any associated
documents or materials related to the Program.
Other committees may be appointed as deemed necessary by the Executive
Committee.
The Executive Committee shall:
·
Create
and amend operational standards for each Certifying Agency
·
Monitor
and evaluate performance levels for each Certifying Agency on at least a
semi-annual basis. Any Certifying Agency
that does not comply with corrective action recommended by the Executive
Committee shall be subject to removal as a Certifying Agency. Removal as a Certifying Agency shall not
affect the recipient’s standing as a member of the LAUCP.
·
Monitor
the development and implementation of the certification directory database
including software and hardware.
·
Develop
LAUCP membership fee structure, if any
·
Resolve
decisions relative to decertifications and denials of
recertifications
·
Shall
be responsible for initial consolidation of DBE registries until fully
operational
·
Resolve
dispute resolutions of certification
All parties signed
herein agree to be bound by this Agreement and the attached Plan and Process
Manual. All parties agree that this
document shall be valid and binding when executed in multiple counterparts.
Each counterpart, when considered collectively with the others, shall
constitute the entire agreement between the parties. Subrecipients
will be committed to follow the decisions of the UCP. Specific language will be
included in future sub grant agreements.
Signing as
Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development:
BY____________________________
Johnny Bradberry