TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 416: Implementing Race-Neutral Measures in State Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs explores race-neutral strategies being used effectively by state departments of transportation (DOTs) to meet their Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) participation goals. It also reviews and synthesizes problems faced by state DOTs in the administration of their DBE programs and identifies race-neutral remedies used to overcome these challenges. As state DOT's carry out their highway construction programs, they are required to direct a portion of their federal-aid fund expenditures toward small businesses called DBEs. A DBE is defined as a small, for-profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. States are required to meet the maximum feasible portion of their DBE participation goals using race-neutral means designed to remove barriers and enhance opportunities for all small businesses, not just DBEs.

"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 448: State Department of Transportation Small Business Programs identifies successful strategies that maximize Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program achievements through race-neutral measures." -- Publisher's description.

TRB National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 343: Management of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Issues in Construction Contracting examines state transportation agencies' (STA's) various approaches to implementation of DBE regulations relating to bidder's lists; prompt payment; return of retainage; actual achievements, including accounting and reporting procedures; good faith efforts; and compliance, including substitutions, fraud, and commercially useful functions. The report also includes information on construction and construction management contracts, designbuild projects, master contracts (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, services on demand, and task ordering), pass-through to local agencies, and STA performance measures.