Overview

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is committed to small and diverse businesses playing a major role in building the historic statewide high-speed rail project.  This commitment will serve to inspire business growth, job creation and workforce development opportunities while building the vitality of California’s high-speed rail program. 

The Authority’s Small Business Program (SB Program) supports small, disadvantaged and disabled veteran owned businesses.  The SB Program provides information that small businesses need to better navigate opportunities, access resources, and more.  Authority partners, stakeholders, small business associations and small businesses have all contributed to the development of a responsive SB Program, that is flexible, efficient, attainable, and credible.  

The SB Program has an aggressive 30 percent goal for small business participation that include Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), Microbusiness (MB), Small Business (SB), Small Business Administration 8(a), and Small Business for the Purpose of Public Works (SB-PW) certifications.  Specific participation goals include a ten percent DBE goal and a three percent DVBE goal. The SB Program requires the design-build and consultant teams to develop and implement a small business performance plan to achieve the established SB Program goals. 

Objectives

The Authority‘s small business objective is to create a Small Business Program that is flexible, efficient, attainable, and credible. The SB Program supports the economic vitality of SBs (the collective of SB Program approved certifications, including DBE, DVBE, MB, SB, SBA 8(a), and SB-PW) by offering outreach, engagement, and supportive services that improve access to opportunities and increase competitiveness.  Efforts to meet the 30 percent small business participation goal include a robust outreach plan, networking with potential contractors, a Small Business newsletter and a Business Advisory Council which serves as a forum to provide essential input to the Authority that impact the small business community.

Plan Components

The Authority has committed to several small business plan components. The components include, but are not limited to, prompt payment provisions and assistance to small business resources. Additionally, the Authority will work collaboratively with small businesses to ensure they are provided a platform to express ideas and concerns.

While the Authority is not a small business certifying agency, the Authority recognizes the small business certifications from the California Department of General Services the California Unified Certification Program, and the U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) Program. To learn more about how to get certified and partner with the Authority in four easy steps, visit, Get on Board.