[Note: The following article is taken from a blog operated by Bryan Cave's Airport Concessions Law blog. The article was originally published on July 5, 2013. A link to the blog appears at the end of this excerpt.]
Over the years, I have often heard complaints within the airport industry about the Good Faith Efforts (“GFE”) standard contained in the federal regulations governing Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. The complaints generally decry the use of GFE and consider the GFE requirements more form than substance, a convenient excuse for non-compliance. Although there may be some merits to the complaint, the effectiveness of the GFE standard hinges upon the manner in which recipient applies the standard to a bidder’s efforts to meet the goal.
The GFE requirements for GFE on a federally assisted contract that contain contract goals is governed by 49 CFR Part §26.53. Section 26.53 provides that when a DBE goal is established, the recipient can award the contract only to a bidder or offeror that has made a GFE to achieve the contract goal. The GFE Guidance is contained in Appendix A to Part 26 and outlines the factors or efforts that should be considered in making the determination. It is important to note that the list of factors contained in Appendix A is not intended to be exhaustive and other factors may be considered in making the GFE determination.
The GFE guidance articulates a clear standard that requires that the bidder’s efforts to meet the goal must be reasonable and necessary steps to meet the goal. The scope, intensity and appropriateness of the bidder’s efforts should be evaluated in order to determine if the efforts would reasonably lead the bidder to obtaining sufficient DBE participation. Mere pro forma efforts are not good faith efforts to meet the goal. The guidance also cautions the recipients not to reject bona fide GFE by a bidder or offeror to meet the goal. In short, the determination of a bidder or offeror’s good faith efforts is a judgment call and the recipient must make a reasoned and balanced decision in making the GFE determination.
Keep reading this article at: http://bryancaveairportconcessionslaw.com/good-faith-efforts-fact-or-fiction/