POLICY STATEMENT AND PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority (SMAA) is the owner and operator of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and, as such, has an obligation to meet the safety, capacity, security, and environmental requirements of SRQ. In fulfilling these obligations, SMAA has received federal financial assistance from the Department of Transportation pursuant to the grant of entitlement and discretionary funds awarded through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As a condition of receiving this assistance, SMAA has provided its written assurance that it will comply with, among others, those regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) found in Title 49 Part 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations address the participation by disadvantaged business enterprises in DOT financial assistance programs. Accordingly, SMAA has established this Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program in accordance with 49 CFR Part 26 (hereinafter "Part 26").
It is the policy of SMAA to ensure that DBEs, as defined in Part 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-assisted contracting opportunities at SRQ. It is furthermore our policy and the objective of this DBE Program:
To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts;
To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted contracts;
To ensure that our DBE program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
To ensure that only firms that fully meet the eligibility standards of Part 26 are permitted to participate as DBEs at SRQ;
To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts.
Mr. Donald Farr has been designated as the DBE Liaison Officer for SMAA. In that capacity, Mr. Farr is primarily responsible for SMAA's compliance with the DBE program and Part 26. Implementation of the DBE program is assigned the same priority as compliance with all other legal obligations incurred by SMAA in its financial assistance agreements with the DOT.
SMAA has disseminated this policy statement to our Board of Commissioners and to all other components of our organization. We have distributed this statement to the DBE and non-DBE communities via publication in the local newspapers of greatest circulation and by posting on the SMAA website.
Fredrick J. Piccolo, President/CEO
Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority