Chicago training series to help SBEs, DBEs compete for rail modernization work

The Chicago Transit Authority is launching a new educational series that will provide training and assistance to Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) so they can compete for work on the CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization Phase One Project.

The RPM Small Business Educational Series will begin later this month and continue through September. Space is limited, and CTA encourages businesses to sign up now for the series of classes, which will be held on both the south and north sides of the city.

“Our goal is to ensure that by providing training and assistance for small businesses, Chicago’s home-grown small businesses are able to compete for any opportunity at CTA that they want to pursue, including the transformational RPM project,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr.

The program participants will engage in a seven-course educational series hosted by CTA and received instruction from key CTA contractors who provided their insight on procuring business opportunities, managing projects, risk management, payroll, and successfully closing out projects. Class topics include:

• Get On Board Business Opportunities
• Management At Its Best
• On Schedule and On Budget
• Getting Paid and Closing It Out
• Technology Benefits to Your Business
• Managing Your Talent
• Getting Prepared for Future Projects

Participants will also learn more information about becoming Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certified with the CTA. Upon completion of the program, participants will have the option to receive OSHA training and CPR training hosted by CTA. Participants will also receive a certificate of completion and have the opportunity to meet with CTA prime contractors. Participant must attend a minimum of six classes to receive a certificate of completion.

CTA has offered similar series of classes, including the Green Line Small Business Initiative series in 2017, which provided training to businesses so they could compete for work on Green Line station upgrade projects, and in 2018 the Your New Blue Small Business Educational RPM Small Business Educational Series for Blue Line station projects. Twenty-four (24) businesses graduated from the Green Line series, with five companies successfully bidding on work on Green Line projects, and 12 businesses graduated from the Your New Blue series and have been encouraged to bid on upcoming Blue Line work.

The Red and Purple Modernization Program is a multi-phase program to rebuild all of the Red and Purple Line stations and track structures between Belmont and Linden. In 2014, CTA announced Phase One of the project and will begin major construction work on Phase One later this year. The project will be fully completed in 2025.