Transportation News, Volume 19, Number 8, April 1994 Page: 5
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5
HUBs to get bigger piece of TxDOT pieVictor Rodriguez
Staff writer
Minority- and women-owned busi-
nesses that would like to participate in
TxDOT activities will now have a greater
opportunity in the department's purchas-
ing and procurement process.
The department is adopting new mea-
sures to increase minority participation in
state-funded highway construction and
maintenance contracts. TxDOT is com-
mitted to having at least 30 percent of its
state-funded contracts awarded to histor-
ically underutilized businesses (HUBs).
Pursuing an increase of HUBs in its
purchasing and construction contracts,
TxDOT will include the HUBs in its new
strategic plan. The HUB goal calls for
specific programs aimed at encouraging
the use of minority- and women-owned
businesses, like the one created by
Administrative Services last March when
it officially took the department's HUB
program under its wing.
"The No. 1 priority of our program is
to increase participation of historically
underutilized businesses in our purchas-
ing and contracting activities," said
Cassie Carlson Reed, deputy executive
director for Administrative Services.
The Administrative Services office
announced the position of HUB coordi-
nator, who will be responsible for han-
dling the program's activities. "All of the
department's HUB activities will be cen-
tralized in this office under a HUB coor-Pearlie Bushong
Yoakum District
A compressed natural gas (CNG)
refueling station in Yoakum represents
a cooperative effort between the
department, Southern Union Gas Com-
pany, Diamond Shamrock and South-
ern Union Econofuel Company.
"The Yoakum refueling station is the
first of its kind to be located in a rural
town the size of Yoakum," said Glenn
Hagler, of the General Services Divi-
sion." It will serve not only Texas
Department of Transportation vehicles
but school buses and other fleet vehi-
cles in the area."
"The Yoakum TxDOT fleet currently
has 12 bi-fuel pickups, which can be
run on gasoline or CNG at the flip of a
switch" said Robert Kaiser, district
equipment supervisor. "This new sta-
tion will provide faster and easier
access to natural gas for our CNG vehi-
des, which are currently refueled
overnight. With the new station, filling
time will be approximately the same as
filling a vehicle with gasoline," he said.
CNG vehicles have many advan-dinator, "added Reed.
A HUB steering committee was also
formed to facilitate the process. The com-
mittee, headed by Reed, includes person-
nel from district and division offices
familiar with the HUB program.
Joining the deputy executive director
in this committee are Cynthia Gonzalez
of the Civil Rights Division, Ed Gibson
and Katie Nees of the Dallas District, Vic-
tor Garcia and John Aldridge of the Con-
struction and Maintenance Division,
Brownwood's Mark Bradshaw, Sil
Romero of the General Services Division,
Johnny Folkes of Houston and Dom
Smith of Administrative Services.
Any small business is eligible for HUB
certification if it is a sole proprietorship,
partnership or joint venture corporation
and is at least 51 percent owned by one
or more persons who are minorities or
women. These people must have active
participation in the control, operation
and management of the business' affairs.
The department continually looks for
ways to help divisions and districts
achieve TxDOT's HUB goal.
For instance, the department has a
special provision in contracts that allows
prime contractors awarded state-funded
highway construction projects to use
HUBs, as certified by the General Ser-
vices Commission. The provision speci-
fies the terms governing a contractor's or
subcontractor's use of HUBs to meet a
contract goal.
Other efforts by TxDOT include sub-tages over gasoline-powered vehicles.
Compressed natural gas is safer to use
because it is stored in aluminum or
steel cylinders that are stronger than
regular gasoline tanks.It is non-toxic
and will not pollute ground water.
Burning CNG produces significantly
less carbon monoxide than gasoline
and zero evaporative emissions.
Engine life is prolonged because the
CNG bums cleaner, which means
fewer oil changes and longer between
tune ups. CNG is 20 to 30 cents a gal-
lon cheaper than regular gasoline.
TxDOT is converting its fleet of
vehicles to CNG or propane to comply
with the Clean Air Act of 1990 and a
Texas legislative mandate. Using alter-
native fuels taps the state's natural
resources and can cut dependence on
foreign sources of oil. And, as more
people convert to using natural gas,
the state's economy should enjoy a
boost.
"Now that we have this station that
makes refueling so much easier, we
will be purchasing more with CNG
capability," said District Engineer
Michael Behrens.scribing to minority-owned publications
for leads on upcoming events and ven-
dors to contact; attending trade shows;
and sharing vendor lists with other agen-
cies and corporations.
To do more business with HUBs,
TxDOT has increased the delegated pur-
chasing and signature authority given to
districts. TxDOT has also established
new guidelines that will allow districts
and Austin offices to make purchases of
up to $5,000 using informal or telephone
bids. The current limit is $1,000. Other
changes include making purchases of up
to $1,000 without taking bids.
TxDOT has also recommended to dis-
tricts that two-thirds of all bids be from
HUBs. The current General Services
Commission rules require three bids
when purchasing goods or services, of
which two must be from HUBs. The new
procedure goes beyond the minimum
requirements to maintain a 66 percent
participation of HUBs in the bidding
process, regardless of the number of bids
mailed or taken.
The department urges districts to use
certified HUBs whenever possible for
purchases that require no bids. TxDOT
also urges them to use HUB original
equipment manufacturers whenever pos-
sible when making distributor purchases.
To ensure greater HUB participation in
the bidding process, TxDOT has recom-
mended that districts augment the Gen-
eral Services Commission bidder's list by
using the certified HUB list whenever
taking formal bids for local purchases of
fuel and for purchases of services over
$15,000.
Reed anticipates that these new proce-
dures and guidelines will help increase
HUB participation in the department's
procurement process.
Ground broken for
Bob Bullock Loop
in Laredo District
Braving cold weather, Lt. Gov. Bob
Bullock was on hand at the Feb. 2
groundbreaking of Laredo's Loop 20 and
the unveiling of the sign for the loop that
will carry his name.
Construction of the Bob Bullock Loop
started at the Milo interchange on Inter-
state 35 and will continue approximately
7 miles to just north of US 59. The initial
phase will include a two-lane rural high-
way with 12 foot-wide travel lanes and
10 foot-wide shoulders.
Phase 1 of the project will be complet-
ed in about eight months and will cost
about $5.5 million. Completion of this
part of the loop will provide access to
1-35 and Texas A&M University in Lare-
do. Cristina Guevara, Laredo DistrictTRANSPORTATION NEWS, April 1994
Cooperation brings CNG
refueling station to Yoakum
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Texas. Department of Transportation. Transportation News, Volume 19, Number 8, April 1994, periodical, April 1994; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth576390/m1/5/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.