Office of Civil Rights

Mission Statement

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) serves a governance role at the District for equity programs and state and federal compliance. OCR's major compliance obligations at the District focuses on the following state and federal regulations and/or programs: Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, California Labor Code, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Environmental Justice (EJ), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Small Business and Non-Discrimination Program for Subcontracting.

OCR is comprised of three divisions that support these responsibilities: Workforce and Policy Compliance, Contract and Labor Compliance, and Economic Opportunity Policies and Programs.

Temporary COVID-19 Certification Processing Guidance

Due to the shelter-in-place order to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is working remotely to assist you with doing business with BART. We encourage you to monitor the Office of Civil Rights website for the latest updates regarding the District’s equity programs and any additional actions taken during this public health emergency.

The District appreciates your understanding as we navigate these unusual times.

OCR has implemented the following guidance received from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Departmental Office of Civil Rights in effect through June 30, 2021:

SUBMISSION AND REVIEW OF CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS (APPLICATIONS, NOTIFICATION OF MATERIAL CHANGE, ANNUAL AFFIDAVITS):

We currently do not have access to mail that has arrived on or after March 17, 2020. We are urging all firms to email (or resend via email) all correspondence to OCRcertifications@bart.gov.  Until further notice,  please send your certification applications, notification of material changes, annual affidavits, documentation of business size, and other correspondence to OCRcertifications@bart.gov.

CERTIFICATION ON-SITE VISITS

We may use computer, tablet, and mobile device technologies, such as Zoom, and other similar telecommunication applications, to interview firm owners/key personnel and take virtual tours of workplaces to complete the Certification application review process.

NOTARIZED STATEMENTS

DBE certification applications are required to use an in-person notary public service as California law does not provide the authority for California notaries public to perform a remote online notarization. The personal appearance of the document signer is required before the notary public. However, California citizens who wish to have their documents notarized can seek a mobile California notary public. Additional information on California notaries public can be found on the California Secretary of State’s website. 

LATEST NEWS

BART seeks members for Business Advisory Council

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (District) is seeking new members for its Business Advisory Council (BAC) for the next term (2019-21).

The BAC was established in 2010 to encourage communications between the District and the small business community and to advise the District in its efforts to ensure that small businesses are afforded equal opportunities to participate on District contracts and agreements.

BAC members serve a two-year period and meetings are typically held every two months from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at District facilities. BAC members represent a variety of industries such as professional services, architecture and engineering, procurement and construction.

If interested in joining the BAC, please submit an application (link below), a letter of recommendation from your organization, as well as a cover letter describing your interest to the Office of Civil Rights by September 17, 2019:

          300 Lakeside Drive, 16th Floor
          Oakland, CA  94612
          Attention: Fernando Flores or email to fflores@bart.gov

Please contact Fernando Flores, Senior Analyst, phone: (510) 464-7503; fax: (510) 464-7587; or email: fflores@bart.gov if you have any questions.

BAC Membership Application_2019-2021

Fiscal Year 2021 Outreach Calendar

Title VI Information

Click here for Title VI Info.

Contact Information

Contract Compliance and Certification:

Ruby Smith, Program Manager II, rsmith@bart.gov or (510) 464-6324

Labor Compliance:

Emilija Besic, Manager of Special Projects, ebesic@bart.gov or (510) 287-4951