What is a Regional Business Enterprise (RBE)?
Metropolitan recognizes an RBE as a permitted or licensed prime consulting business of any size, having an office in operation for at least one calendar year that is located within Metropolitan’s service area. This encompasses 5,200 square miles within portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties. 

How does my company become certified as an RBE?
No formal certification is required for RBE status.  When a company registers with Metropolitan through NETConnect, RBE status is determined by address.  Companies that qualify for RBE incentives must show documentation of regional status if awarded a contract.  This can be in the form of an office space lease copy or utility bill. 

To be considered a Regional Business Enterprise, do I have to have offices in each of the six counties served by Metropolitan?
You must have at least one office in Metropolitan’s service area which includes portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura Counties.  That office must have been open for no less than one calendar year, with the exception of a business established within the last calendar year.

Which industry-coding system does Metropolitan use?
Metropolitan uses the North American Industry Classification System developed to provide comparability in statistics for business activity across North America including the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  NAICS establishes 20 broad business sectors, each supporting multiple subsectors, and assigns codes from these sectors and subsectors to business activity.  Metropolitan’s Business Outreach Program assigns NAICS codes to vendors as part of the SBE certification process.

Which goods and services does Metropolitan contract for?
MWD contracts for a wide range of goods and services. The top twenty categories of goods and services—in order of quantity used—are:

1. Construction Management	11. Photography
2. Construction Materials	12. Pipes and Fittings
3. Computer Hardware and Peripherals	13. Promotional Items
4. Construction	14. Pumps
5. Environmental Engineering	15. Safety Equipment
6. Furniture and Fixtures	16. Staffing
7. Janitorial Services	17. Telecommunications
8. Landscaping	18. Tires
9. Machining and Milling	19. Training
10. Office Products	20. Valves

If you do not see your industry in the list, do not worry. This is only a partial list. Call the Metropolitan Business Outreach Program Vendor Hotline for information on these and other categories of goods and services.

Do subcontractors or sub-consultants have to have their own insurance?
The Prime contractor must insure its subcontractors. In addition, subs must have any insurance required by law, such as Workers' Compensation or vehicle insurance.

How do subcontractors or sub-consultants know if they have been listed in the proposal or contract?
Metropolitan sends out notices to subcontractors and sub-consultants that a Prime contractor has named them in an RFP or contract.

What disqualifies a proposal before its content is read?
A proposal may be disqualified before the content is read if:

• The proposal is late--even a minute late
• The proposal does not follow the format set in the RFP/RFQ
• The proposal has obvious bad grammar, typos, and mistakes
• Required information is omitted

How do I know if I didn’t get the contract?
Metropolitan sends out notification of the winning bid to all bidders

Are there opportunities to team with another vendor?
Yes. Opportunities for successfully teaming with another vendor may include working with key customers, brand leaders, a company from another sector, a former employer and/or a competitor.

What are progress payments?
Progress payments are payments made as the work progresses as outlined in the proposal or contract.

What are my options if I do not win the contract?
If you are an unsuccessful vendor, you have the right to request a debriefing.   A debriefing  usually takes place by phone with the Contract Administrator.  You may only discuss your strengths and weaknesses against the RFP/RFQ criteria.  You also may request an in-person debriefing. You may file a protest if if you feel that any of the following have occurred:

• fraud
• illegality
• conflict of interest
• material irregularities in the proposed process

Simply losing is not grounds for a protest.   There must be material irregularities as grounds for filing a protest.