NEW ONLINE PORTAL STREAMLINES DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION

(Los Angeles, CA) As part of ongoing efforts to promote contracting opportunities within the airport marketplace, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), in partnership with the Los Angeles Public Works-Bureau of Contract Administration (BCA), has launched a new online portal for vendors to apply for certification as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or an Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE).

The new portal makes the DBE/ACDBE certification process easy and streamlined for applicants seeking the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designations that enable businesses owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals the opportunity to compete for airport contracts.

Access to the portal is available at lacity.diversitysoftware.com.

"Los Angeles World Airports is firmly committed to breaking down barriers and enabling more disadvantaged businesses to participate in our massive transformation efforts," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. "With our partners at Public Works-Bureau of Contract Administration, we are advancing the shared goal of ensuring that local and small disadvantaged businesses can more easily apply for certification and compete for business opportunities at LAX and Van Nuys Airport."

Prior to the portal's introduction, the city's certification officers relied on paper copies of required documents. Communication between the city and vendors took place primarily by telephone or email, and additional time was needed to review submitted documents required for certification under the federal program.

The new portal speeds up the review process by digitizing and storing all of these documents online. Vendors seeking either type of certification can now submit all the required paperwork online. Communication among vendors, LAWA and BCA also can be handled online.

"We are proud to partner with LAWA to launch this new online portal. It's a shining example of the City's efforts to create a more accessible and streamlined certification process for our business communities that need it the most," said John L. Reamer, Jr., Inspector of Public Works and Director of the Bureau of Contract Administration. "Many renowned Public Works projects have been designed and constructed by our disadvantaged business community and this new system will help other similar businesses get certified and compete for contracts more quickly to continue this important work."

Applicants also can take advantage of online virtual training modules hosted on the new portal, covering a variety of topics, including registration of a vendor's firm in the system, contract compliance and more. It also features a searchable database of DBE/ACDBE-certified firms, and is available for DBE/ACDBE-certified vendors to submit required annual update forms and documents when appropriate.

DBE/ACDBE applications are processed by municipalities throughout California that are certifying members of the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP), and the new portal's design was led by Caltrans. LAWA and BCA are both certifying partners that are able to grant DBE and ACDBE certifications.

With the new portal, LAWA anticipates it will be easier for small business vendors from disadvantaged communities to apply for certification and pursue contracts at LAX and VNY. LAWA is a leader among government agencies and the aviation industry in inclusive contracting practices, and provides many resources for businesses to learn what they need to succeed in competing for and winning airport contracts.