Revised 3/27/2017
10
Attachment 2 – Good Faith Efforts Documentation and Standards
If the responder’s DBE commitment falls short of the DBE goal, the responder must demonstrate adequate good faith
efforts (GFE) in order to be eligible for contract award (49 CFR § 26.53). To demonstrate that the responder made
adequate GFE, the responder must show documentation that the responder took all necessary and reasonable steps to
achieve the DBE goal which, by their scope, intensity, and appropriateness to the objective, could reasonably be expected
to obtain sufficient DBE participation, even if the responder were not fully successful.
The efforts employed by the responder should be those that one could reasonably expect the responder to take if the
responder were actively and aggressively trying to obtain DBE participation sufficient to meet the DBE contract goal.
Mere pro forma efforts are not good faith efforts to meet the contract requirements. The GFE consolidated form, attached
to these provisions as Exhibit B, provides a helpful start to the responder’s documentation, but the responder is not
limited to the information specified in the consolidated form.
When the responder submits GFE documentation, the responder must explain the relevance of any documents the
responder submits that are not mentioned in these special provisions or the related forms. Responder is encouraged to
submit ALL information that supports good faith efforts with an explanatory narrative. Only documentation
provided to MnDOT OCR by the submission due date can be considered by MnDOT to determine GFEs.
Good Faith Efforts Evaluation
MnDOT will consider the actions listed below when evaluating the responder’s GFE documentation. This list closely
resembles a list in 49 CFR Part 26, Appendix A. The listed actions are consistent with GFE, but the list is not a
mandatory checklist, nor is it intended to be exclusive or exhaustive. MnDOT will also consider the performance of other
bidders relative to the DBE goal. Other factors or types of efforts may be relevant in appropriate cases. MnDOT will
make GFE determinations on a case-by-case basis.
(a) Conducting market research to identify small business contractors and suppliers and soliciting through all
reasonable and available means the interest of all certified DBEs that have the capability to perform the work of
the contract. This may include attendance at pre-bid and business matchmaking meetings and events, advertising and/or
written notices, posting of Notices of Sources Sought and/or Requests for Proposals, written notices or emails to DBEs
that specialize in the areas of work desired (as noted in the DBE directory) and which are located in the area or
surrounding areas of the project. The bidder should solicit this interest as early as practicable to allow the DBEs to
respond to the solicitation and submit a timely offer for the subcontract. The bidder should determine with certainty if the
DBEs are interested by taking appropriate steps to follow up on initial solicitations.
(b) Selecting portions of the work to be performed by DBEs in order to increase the likelihood that the DBE goals
will be achieved. This includes, where appropriate, breaking out contract work items into economically feasible units (for
example, smaller tasks or quantities) to facilitate DBE participation, even when the prime contractor might otherwise
prefer to perform these work items with its own forces. This may include, where possible, establishing flexible timeframes
for performance and delivery schedules in a manner that encourages and facilitates DBE participation.
(c) Providing interested DBEs with adequate information about the plans, specifications, and requirements of the
contract in a timely manner to assist them in responding to a solicitation with their offer for the subcontract.
(d) Negotiating in good faith with interested DBEs. It is the bidder's responsibility to make a portion of the work
available to DBE subcontractors and suppliers and to select those portions of the work or material needs consistent with
the available DBE subcontractors and suppliers, so as to facilitate DBE participation. Evidence of such negotiation
includes the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of DBEs that were considered; a description of the information
provided regarding the plans and specifications for the work selected for subcontracting; and evidence as to why
additional agreements could not be reached for DBEs to perform the work. A bidder using good business judgment would
consider a number of factors in negotiating with subcontractors, including DBE subcontractors, and would take a firm's
price and capabilities as well as contract goals into consideration. However, the fact that there may be some additional
costs involved in finding and using DBEs is not in itself sufficient reason for a bidder's failure to meet the contract DBE
DBE Special Provisions