Mission Statement
The Office of Civil Rights aims to create a workplace free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, ensures that those who do business with BART are treated fairly and that BART riders and community members have fair and equal access to our system.
The Office of Civil Rights exists to meet the following state and federal laws and regulations:
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: The Federal Transit Administration requires BART to maintain a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise policy and program under 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 26 and to enforce such provisions for all of BART's federally funded contracts. This is a requirement for recipients of U.S. Department of Transportation financial assistance.
- Labor Compliance: BART is mandated to ensure compliance with California Labor Code Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 and Federal Code of Federal Regulations 29 prevailing wage statutes and regulations.
- Title VI & Title VII: The Federal Transit Administration requires transit agencies who receive money from federal sources to comply with Federal Law and regulations relating to BART equal employment opportunity programs. These obligations arise under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq.) and implementing regulations at 49 CFR Part 21, as well as under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §2000e et seq.) and FTA Circular 4704.1A. BART must also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
- BART must comply with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Gov. Code §§12900–12996), which mandates state employment protections, training requirements, reasonable accommodations with an interactive process (Gov. Code §12940(m)–(n)).
- The Director of the Office of Civil Rights is appointed as the EEO Officer and oversees compliance functions in the above laws and regulations.
Under these regulations, BART provides U.S. Department of Transportation with assurance that it will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts. The Office of Civil Rights is responsible for implementing and administering the DBE Program and ensuring the District complies with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 26 and the USDOT Interim Final Rule issued on October 3, 2025. BART’s DBE Program supports federal transportation funding requirements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and other federal transportation authorization laws.
Outreach Events
Join us for a dynamic outreach session created specifically for business owners interested in getting certified with BART. Learn what the certifications mean, why they matter, and how to get started—directly from the source. No Registration Needed!
Date & Time | Small Business Certification Program |
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 10:00 AM-11:00 AM (PST) | Join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83762681955 Phone one-tap: +1408-961-3927 Meeting ID: 83762681955 |
Thursday, October 22, 2026 2:00 PM- 3:00 (PST) | Join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85818953430 Phone one-tap: +1408-961-3927 Meeting ID: 85818953430 |
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM (PST) | Join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85365445405 Phone one-tap: +1408-961-3929 Meeting ID: 85365445405 |
Tuesday, December 15, 2026 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM (PST) | Join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84485232547 Phone one-tap: +1408-961-3929 Meeting ID: 84485232547 |
Discover how becoming a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or Small Business Entity (SBE) can open doors to new contracting opportunities! No Registration Needed!
Date & Time | How to do Business with BART |
Friday, September 25, 2026 12:00 PM-1:00 PM (PST) | Join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85219820243 Phone one-tap: +1408-961-3928 Meeting ID: 85219820243 |
For questions or additional information regarding:
- Small Business Certification Program: email [email protected]
- DBE and SBE Certification Status: email [email protected]
- Upcoming Outreach Events: email [email protected]
Latest News
Notice to All DBE/ACDBE Firms:
On October 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) requiring certifiers to reevaluate the eligibility of all DBE and ACDBE firms.
On July 20, 2026, the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) informed the U.S. Department of Transportation of its completion of the reevaluation process of firms that met the April 16, 2026, submission date.
What This Means:
- Recertified firms under the revised federal regulations will now appear in the CUCP DBE directory at californiaucp.dbesystem.com.
- Annual Declaration of Eligibility (DOE): If your firm has been recertified, please note that submitting an annual Declaration of Eligibility is required to maintain your certification. If needed, please confirm your DOE anniversary date with your certifying agency to ensure required documentation is submitted on time.
- New DBE Certification Applications: Effective July 21, 2026, all CUCP certifying agencies resumed accepting new DBE, ACDBE, and Interstate certification applications.
- Pending Reevaluations: CUCP agencies will also continue processing any outstanding DBE or ACDBE reevaluation submissions that remain under review.
Although firms may be recertified and/or newly approved, BART is not establishing new DBE contract goals at this time while it completes its revised Overall DBE Goal and Goal Methodology and coordinates implementation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
For questions regarding DBE certification or the reevaluation process, please contact your certifying agency. For questions regarding BART's DBE Program and contract requirements, please email [email protected] or [email protected] regarding DBE certification.
Read the Reevaluation Letter Guide for more information.
BART’s Office of Civil Rights ensures non-discrimination in the execution of contracts.
Contact the Office of Civil Rights
10/03/25 Memo to Contractors, Consultants, and Suppliers
Frequently Visited Webpages
B2Gnow Compliance System
Apply/Renew Certifications
Search for Certified Vendor Directory
Small Business Support Services
Search for Work Plans
BART seeks members for the Business Advisory Council
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (District) is seeking new members for its Business Advisory Council (BAC) for a two-year term and your organization is invited to apply for membership.
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.
The BAC currently consists of members representing the small business community covering geographical areas of the District’s service area as well as representation from the following industries: professional services, architecture and engineering, procurement and construction. Committee members serve a two-year period. Meetings are held once quarterly from 1 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in-person at BART Headquarters with the option to join virtually (via Zoom).
Members are involved in providing valuable feedback on District contracting, services and procurement policies, programs and practices.
If you would like to join the BAC, please submit the following:
- Completed BAC application
- Letter of recommendation from your organization (maximum one page)
- Cover letter outlining your interest (maximum one page)
Please submit these application documents to Alexandra Arroyo at [email protected]
If you have any questions, email Alexandra Arroyo, at the above email address
Rudy Garza, Director of Office of Civil Rights
What We Do
Economic Opportunity Policies and Programs
Economics Opportunity Policies and Programs Division is responsible for:
- Policy analysis and implementation of the District’s Small Business Programs.
- Semi-annual reporting requirements to the Federal Transit Administration on contract performance on awards and payment data; performs analysis to determine to if projects meet goals; conduct shortfall analysis.
- Mentor Protégé Programs
- Small Business Programs certification for small businesses seeking DBE, SBE, MSBE, LSB certifications.
- KPIs/SOPs and strategic planning.
- Oversee the Contracting Plan Application and B2Gnow vendor payment tracking system.
- Small Business Programs Contract Boiler Plate updates.
- General outreach to small businesses (provide program awareness, contracting opportunities for current and future projects)
- Conduct Disparity Study.
- Facilitate the Business Advisory Council.
For general inquiries and certification related questions, please contact Hoa Sin, Sr. Program Manager at [email protected] or call (510) 464-7538
For data related inquiries, please contact Joseph Towner, Manager of Program Planning and Support at [email protected]
Contract Compliance Program
The Office of Civil Rights Contract Compliance Unit (CCU) is responsible for the application and coordination of the District’s Small Business Programs on all local, state, and federal funded construction and procurement contracts (“Contracts”). The District’s Small Business Programs include the Small Business, Local Small Business, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (under review), Small Business Elements and Micro-Small Business Entity for Subcontracting (collectively “Small Business Programs”). The Small Business Programs create a level playing field for the Small Business Community by offering every opportunity to bid and participate on upcoming BART Contracts.
Additionally, the CCU is responsible for compliance and monitoring of all Contract requirements and activities during Pre-Award and Post-Award Phases. Some of these activities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Participate in “Kick-Off” Meetings to discuss unbundling criteria in applicable Contracts.
- Contract Goal Setting.
- Review Bid Submittals and Complete Bid Analysis.
- Participate in Pre-Bid, Pre-Construction and Progress Meetings.
- Facilitate and coordinate Substitution Process.
- Coordinate Project Close-Outs
The CCU has a strong commitment, and it is an integral component to the success of the District’s Overall Mission and Small Business Programs.
For assistance and general inquiries, please contact James Soncuya, Acting Sr. Compliance Programs Manager, at [email protected] or at 510-464-7578.
Labor Compliance Program
BART’s Labor Compliance Unit (LCU) is responsible for educating, assisting, monitoring and enforcing prevailing wage requirements of the applicable labor laws to ensure that all contractors and professional services firms working on public works construction projects are in compliance with State (California Labor Code Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2) and Federal (Code of Federal Regulations 29) prevailing wage statutes and regulations.
The LCU’s mission is to:
- Create a fair and level playing field among contractors bidding on BART projects by ensuring consistency in enforcement of federal and state labor laws.
- Ensure that employees working on BART projects are paid prevailing wages.
- Responsibly administer BART’s Project Stabilization Agreements.
The Labor Compliance Unit monitors compliance with statutory and contractual requirements on District projects by collecting and reviewing certified payroll reports (CPRs) and verifying the accuracy through site visits, the review of project documentation, and worker interviews.
LCU also initiates the enforcement process in the event of violations. California Labor Code §1726 requires that BART take cognizance of prevailing wage violations, and when BART identifies possible violations, LCU refers them to the State of California's Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) who may order withholding of contract payments, impose penalties, and recover back wages.
For assistance and general inquiries, please contact Jorge Saavedra, Labor Compliance Manager at jsaaved@bart.gov or [email protected].
Agreement Compliance Program
The Agreement Compliance Unit (ACU) plays a vital role in the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and is responsible for:
- Pre-Award Agreement Compliance
- Post-Award Agreement Compliance
- Review of Agreements issued under the California Department of General Services’ Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) for the procurement of Information Technology consulting services
- Review of all District Work Plans
- Management of the District’s Small Business Support Services Program
Specifically, ACU is responsible for ensuring that all District Agreements comply with the applicable District Small Business Programs. Pre-Award compliance includes review of all Agreement Contracting Plans and Request for Proposals; development of applicable goals; serving on selection panels; presenting at pre-proposal conferences; administrating networking events; and reviewing submittals for compliance with the applicable Small Business Programs. Post-Award compliance includes reviewing all Agreements for compliance with Small Business Programs commitments using B2GNOW, OCR’s compliance management and vendor payment tracking system; reviewing all substitution and addition requests; and coordinating commercially useful function site visits.
Additionally, ACU, in conjunction with Procurement and the Office of Chief Information Officer, has developed and implemented a review process for issuance of agreements under CMAS for the procurement of Information Technology consulting services. The purpose of this review process is to ensure transparency and accountability in the issuance of agreements under CMAS. Under the review process ACU reviews all agreements under CMAS.
ACU also has developed and implemented a review process for all District work plans. The purpose of this review process is to ensure transparency and accountability in the issuance of District work plans. Under the review process ACU reviews all District work plans.
Lastly, ACU oversees the implementation of the District’s Small Business Support Services (SBSS) program in junction with our SBSS consultant, The Allen Group. The SBSS offers support services for small firms seeking to participate in District construction contracts and for small firms currently working on District construction contracts.
For SBSS related questions, please contact James Soncuya, Manager of Small Business Supportive Services at [email protected].
Workforce & Policy Compliance
The Workforce & Policy Compliance Division (WPC) oversees and monitors the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), and Title VI compliance. The EEO Unit provides strategic direction and leadership to the District's EEO Program, complaint processing procedures, and other related EEO missions of OCR. The Title VI Unit provides strategic direction and leadership on Title VI, performs analyses on all fare and major service changes, notifies the public of their rights under Title VI, and promotes public outreach to ensure that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, BART's services or programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, or language proficiency.
For Workforce & Policy Compliance Division questions, please contact Sabrina Baptiste, Sr. Manager of Workforce & Policy Compliance, at [email protected].
For EEO and Training related questions, please contact Dalmar Ismail, Manager of EEO Programs, at [email protected].
For Title VI and language assistance questions, please contact Sabrina Baptiste at [email protected].