SBE Program

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    Metra’s Small Business Element Program

    On June 1, 2016, Metra’s Office of Diversity & Business Enterprise (ODBE) launched its Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program. The purpose of the SBE program is to assist small businesses and ensure they have a fair opportunity to participate on Metra projects. It is a set-aside program designed to increase the number of competitively awarded contracts to small businesses, maximize contract opportunities, and minimize contract bundling.

    Metra is encouraging all small businesses that qualify to complete the SBE certification process.

    To qualify as an SBE, companies must meet the following requirements:

    • Be an independently owned business;
    • For-profit business;
    • Personal Net Worth must not exceed $2,047,000; and
    • It must not have an annual gross receipts average over the previous three years exceeding $30,720,000. Depending on the type of work the business performs, other size standards apply.

    If you are currently certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with Metra or one of the other four Illinois Unified Certification Program (IL UCP) members (Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Pace, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the City of Chicago), you are automatically considered an SBE and do not have to complete the certification process. However, you must provide proof of the firm's DBE certification when submitting your bid.

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