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California UCP Resource Guide

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) DBE Program: How to Get Certified & Win Contracts (2026)

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is the public transportation agency for Orange County, California, planning and delivering bus, rail, freeway, and related transportation programs across the region. Because OCTA builds and operates with federal transportation dollars, it runs a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. But — and this is the key distinction — OCTA does not certify firms itself. It is a non-certifying (contracting) agency that sets DBE goals on its federally funded contracts and recognizes certifications issued through the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP). This independent guide explains how OCTA's DBE program works, how to get DBE-certified through the California UCP so you can bid on OCTA contracts, how to find and bid on those contracts, and how to verify certified firms. New to the program itself? Start with our statewide DBE certification guide.

Last reviewed June 2026 — verify current details on OCTA's official DBE program page. This is an independent resource and is not affiliated with OCTA, the California UCP, Caltrans, or USDOT. Always confirm current requirements, goals, and contacts on the agency's official site before acting.

OCTA DBE Program: Quick Answer

OCTA does not certify firms. It is a non-certifying agency that sets DBE goals on its DOT-assisted contracts — you get certified once through the California UCP, then compete for the OCTA contracts that carry DBE participation.

  • OCTA administers a federal DBE program under 49 CFR Part 26 on its USDOT/FTA-funded contracts, through its Contracts Administration and Materials Management (CAMM) department.
  • OCTA is a non-certifying CUCP agency — it recognizes DBE certifications but does not issue them.
  • You certify through the California UCP (caltrans.dbesystem.com, managed by Caltrans) — a DBE certification from any CUCP member is valid statewide, including for OCTA work.
  • OCTA sets a triennial overall DBE goal (current period FFY 2025-2027) and may set contract-specific goals on DOT-assisted contracts with subcontracting opportunities.
  • Find opportunities through OCTA's e-procurement portal, CAMM NET (cammnet.octa.net).

1. What OCTA Is and Its Role in DBE Contracting

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is the public transportation agency for Orange County, California, responsible for bus and rail service, freeway and street improvements, and related transportation programs across the county. To deliver this work, OCTA receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation — primarily through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) — and federal money carries federal civil-rights obligations under 49 CFR Part 26.

It is important to be precise about OCTA's role, because not every California transportation agency plays the same part in the DBE system. OCTA's role is that of a non-certifying, goal-setting (contracting) agency:

Non-certifying agency in the CUCP

OCTA does not process or issue DBE certifications. It is not on the CUCP roster of certifying partners (those certifying members include Caltrans, LA Metro, SDCRAA, BART, SFO, SFMTA, SamTrans, VTA, the City of Los Angeles, and the City of Fresno). OCTA's own DBE guidance instructs firms to obtain certification from a CUCP certifying member agency.

Contracting (goal-setting) agency

As a USDOT/FTA fund recipient, OCTA sets DBE goals on its own federally funded contracts and recognizes DBE certifications issued through the CUCP. Firms that are DBE-certified can have their participation counted toward those goals when they bid on or subcontract on OCTA's DOT-assisted work.

The practical takeaway: you cannot "apply to OCTA" for DBE certification. In OCTA's own words, to receive DBE credit on an OCTA contract a firm must obtain its DBE certification from a California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) certifying member agency and be certified in the applicable NAICS code. You certify once through the CUCP (most firms apply through Caltrans), and then OCTA — wearing its contracting hat — gives certified firms opportunities to compete for and participate in its federally assisted contracts.

For how the statewide system is organized, see California's DBE certifying agencies and the role of Caltrans as the CUCP lead agency.

2. How OCTA's DBE Program Works

OCTA administers the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program under 49 CFR Part 26 as a condition of receiving USDOT/FTA financial assistance. The program is administered through OCTA's Contracts Administration and Materials Management (CAMM) department, and it aims to ensure that minority-owned, women-owned, and other disadvantaged small businesses can fairly compete for and perform on contracts and subcontracts financed in whole or in part with DOT funds.

A DBE is a small, for-profit business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged under USDOT eligibility criteria. OCTA pursues its DBE participation through:

  • An overall (triennial) DBE goal, set using the DOT-approved methodology in 49 CFR 26.45 for its DOT-assisted work.
  • Race-neutral measures — such as outreach, small-business support, bonding assistance, and good-faith-efforts resources — used as the primary means of meeting the goal.
  • Contract-specific (race-conscious) DBE goals, applied where projected shortfalls exist, but only on DOT-assisted contracts that have subcontracting opportunities. On those contracts, bidders must meet the assigned goal or document adequate good-faith efforts.
Why this matters for you: when an OCTA solicitation carries a DBE goal, the prime contractor needs verified DBE subcontractors to meet it. Being a current, correctly listed CA UCP DBE — certified in the right NAICS code — is what lets a prime count your participation, which is a direct reason primes seek out certified firms when assembling bid teams.

3. OCTA's DBE Goal

OCTA sets an overall triennial DBE goal for its DOT-assisted contracts and documents how it expects to achieve that goal through a combination of race-neutral and, where needed, race-conscious measures. Per OCTA's public notice, the current period is Federal Fiscal Years 2025-2027, covering contracts solicited or awarded from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027.

We do not state a goal percentage here. The specific overall DBE goal for FFY 2025-2027 — and its split between race-neutral and race-conscious measures — could not be independently verified for this guide. Rather than publish an unverified figure, we direct you to confirm the current adopted goal on OCTA's official DBE pages and the OCTA overall-goal public notice before relying on it in a bid or proposal.

Note that under the October 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule, the federal DBE framework — including how recipients set and apply goals — has been in transition nationally. Treat any goal figure you find as provisional until you verify it against OCTA's current published methodology on the official OCTA DBE page.

4. How to Get DBE-Certified to Bid on OCTA

Because OCTA does not certify firms, you become DBE-certified through the California Unified Certification Program — one application, recognized statewide. There is no separate "OCTA DBE certification." Here is the path:

  1. 1

    Confirm you are not already certified

    If you already hold a DBE certification from Caltrans or any other CUCP member, you do NOT re-apply for OCTA. Your statewide DBE certification is already recognized for OCTA's federally funded contracts.

  2. 2

    Apply through the California UCP (caltrans.dbesystem.com)

    Submit one DBE application to a CUCP certifying member agency via the Caltrans/CUCP B2Gnow system at caltrans.dbesystem.com. Caltrans is the largest certifying member and the most common route. Once approved, your DBE certification is recognized statewide by all USDOT recipients in California, including OCTA.

  3. 3

    Cover the right NAICS codes

    OCTA requires that, to receive DBE credit on a contract, your firm be certified in the NAICS code applicable to the contract's scope of work and hold a valid CUCP DBE certification at the time of proposal submission. Make sure your certified NAICS codes match the work you intend to perform.

  4. 4

    Prepare for the current federal standard

    Under the October 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule, group presumptions of disadvantage were removed: every applicant must now prove individual social and economic disadvantage through a Personal Narrative, subject to a personal net worth cap of $2,047,000. Verify the current application steps and forms on the official CA UCP / Caltrans DBE site (dot.ca.gov/programs/civil-rights/dbe-certification-information and ucp.dot.ca.gov).

For the full document checklist, eligibility tests (ownership, control, size, personal net worth), and how the Personal Narrative works, see our DBE certification guide and the Caltrans DBE guide (the most common CUCP route). You can also review who qualifies and the application steps.

Remember: OCTA will not take your DBE application. All federal DBE certification in California flows through the CA UCP. Once you are certified in the applicable NAICS code, OCTA recognizes that certification for its federally funded contracts.

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5. OCTA's DBE & Small-Business Support

Alongside its federal DBE program, OCTA provides outreach and support services to help DBEs and small businesses compete for and perform on its contracts. These are support resources — not a separate federal certification — and they are distinct from a CA UCP DBE certification.

Bonding Education Program / bonding assistance

OCTA offers a Bonding Education Program and bonding assistance to help small and disadvantaged firms become bond-ready so they can compete for prime and subcontract work. Details are on OCTA's bonding-assistance resource at cammnet.octa.net/dbe/bondasst. Treat the exact program name and structure as approximate and verify the current offering on the official site.

Good Faith Efforts Toolkit

OCTA publishes a Good Faith Efforts (GFE) Toolkit to help bidders on DBE-goaled contracts document the steps they take to obtain DBE participation — important when a contract carries a contract-specific goal and a bidder cannot meet it through committed DBE participation alone.

Small-business outreach & networking

OCTA runs outreach such as its "Meet the Contract Administrator/Buyer" program, small-business workshops and summits (including a Small Business Summit and CAMMNET Connect), and vendor training. These events help firms understand OCTA's procurement process and connect with primes and buyers.

What does NOT apply: ACDBE

The Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program does not apply to OCTA. OCTA provides bus, rail, and related transportation services and does not operate an airport, so there is no OCTA ACDBE (airport concessions) program. No separate OCTA-run SBE/SLBE/DVBE certification program was verified — OCTA relies on the federal DBE framework and CUCP certification.

Full details on OCTA's DBE program and business resources live on OCTA's official DBE program page and its doing-business resources on CAMM NET.

6. How to Find & Bid on OCTA Contracts

OCTA advertises its contracting opportunities through its online e-procurement portal, CAMM NET. To see solicitations and bid, you generally need to register as a vendor first:

Register on OCTA's CAMM NET portal

Registration is free; you will need your company's Taxpayer Identification Number / EIN from your W-9. Registered vendors, suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors receive solicitation emails matched to their commodity/service codes.

Browse OCTA procurements on CAMM NET

Open procurements, online procurements, future procurements, and recently awarded contracts are all listed on CAMM NET. Depending on the solicitation type, you can download documents and submit bids or proposals online.

OCTA DBE Program

DBE program details, the overall goal information, the Good Faith Efforts Toolkit, bonding assistance, and instructions to obtain certification through the California UCP.

Tip: register early and keep your commodity/service codes current. Matching your codes in CAMM NET means you find out about DBE-goaled OCTA work in time to assemble a compliant team — rather than scrambling near the bid deadline. If you are a subcontractor, get listed in the statewide DBE directory (see the next section) so primes can find you.

7. Verify & Look Up DBE Firms

Because DBE certification is unified statewide through the CA UCP, you do not need an OCTA-specific directory to confirm a firm's DBE status for OCTA work. The statewide certified-DBE directory is the Caltrans/CUCP database at caltrans.dbesystem.com. A firm certified by any CUCP member — Caltrans or another agency — is listed there and is valid for OCTA's DOT-assisted contracts.

Who uses the directory

  • Prime contractors bidding OCTA work search by NAICS/work code and county to find DBE subcontractors who can count toward a contract's DBE goal.
  • Subcontractors confirm their own listing is current and accurate — including the right NAICS codes — so primes can find and rely on them.
  • Agencies and primes verify a firm's current certification status before counting its participation.

Use our DBE Directory page for how to search the statewide CA UCP directory by firm name, work code, or county, and to verify a firm's current certification before relying on it for DBE participation on an OCTA contract.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Does OCTA certify DBE firms?

No. OCTA is a non-certifying agency in the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP). It does not process or issue DBE certifications. OCTA's own guidance is explicit: to receive DBE credit on an OCTA contract, firms must obtain their DBE certification from a CUCP certifying member agency and be certified in the applicable NAICS code. To get certified, you apply through the California UCP (managed by Caltrans) via caltrans.dbesystem.com, then bid OCTA contracts once certified.

Where do I get DBE-certified to bid on OCTA contracts?

Through the California Unified Certification Program. You submit one DBE application to a CUCP certifying member — Caltrans is the largest — via the Caltrans/CUCP B2Gnow system at caltrans.dbesystem.com. Once approved, your DBE certification is recognized statewide by all USDOT-funded recipients in California, including OCTA. Make sure your certification covers the NAICS code(s) that match the contract's scope of work and is valid when you submit your proposal.

Do I need to be DBE-certified to bid on OCTA contracts?

No. Any qualified firm can bid on OCTA contracts. DBE certification is only needed if you want your participation counted toward a contract's DBE goal — most often as a DBE subcontractor on an OCTA DOT-assisted contract with subcontracting opportunities, or as a DBE prime.

What is OCTA's DBE goal?

OCTA sets a triennial overall DBE goal for its DOT-assisted (primarily FTA-funded) contracts using the methodology in 49 CFR 26.45, met through race-neutral measures plus contract-specific (race-conscious) goals where shortfalls are projected on contracts that have subcontracting opportunities. The current period is FFY 2025-2027 (contracts solicited or awarded October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027). The specific overall percentage and its race-neutral/race-conscious split are not verified here, so we do not state a number — confirm the current goal on OCTA's official DBE pages and public notice.

How do I find OCTA contract opportunities?

OCTA posts all solicitations on its e-procurement portal, CAMM NET, at cammnet.octa.net. Registration is free (you will need your company's Taxpayer Identification Number / EIN from your W-9). Registered vendors receive solicitation emails matched to their commodity/service codes, can download solicitation documents, and submit online bids or proposals depending on the solicitation type. Open, online, future, and recently awarded procurements are all listed on CAMM NET. OCTA also runs outreach such as 'Meet the Contract Administrator/Buyer' and small-business workshops and summits.

Does OCTA have an ACDBE (airport concessions) program?

No. The ACDBE program applies to airport operators, and OCTA does not operate an airport — it provides bus, rail, and related transportation services in Orange County. There is no OCTA ACDBE program.

How do I verify that a firm is a certified DBE for an OCTA contract?

Use the statewide California UCP DBE directory (the Caltrans/CUCP database at caltrans.dbesystem.com). Because DBE certification is unified, a firm certified by any CUCP member is in the same searchable directory and is valid for OCTA's DOT-assisted contracts. Search by firm name, NAICS/work code, or county and confirm the certification is current and covers the contract's scope before relying on it.

Related Resources

DBE DirectorySearch & verify certified DBE firms statewide.DBE Certification GuideWhat the DBE program is and how to qualify.Caltrans DBE GuideThe most common CUCP route to certification.All Certifying AgenciesFind your regional CUCP certifying agency.

Disclaimer: This guide is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), the California UCP, Caltrans, or USDOT. It does not certify firms and does not process applications. DBE program rules, goals, thresholds, and processing status change — and the federal DBE framework has been in transition since the October 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule. Always verify current details on OCTA's official DBE program page and the California UCP / Caltrans DBE pages before applying or bidding.

Need Help with Your DBE Certification?

Get connected with an experienced certification advisor who can guide you through the application process. Free initial consultation.

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