Q:  How does the program work?

A: Small businesses interested in doing business with the ARRC register their business on the “Interested Small Business List” by going to the corporation’s website at http://www.alaskarailroad.com/ and clicking on the Small Business Outreach Program under “Suppliers”.  The small business is required to establish that it is eligible to participate in the program and must provide the ARRC with the type of goods and/or services offered by the business.

On most “small procurements” (less than $100,000), the ARRC obtains three quotes from businesses that are interested in providing the goods or services called for by the procurement.  Once quotes are received, the procurement is awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder or to the most qualified responsive and responsible offer or, in accordance with the ARRC's Procurement Rules ARRC's Procurement Rules .

When the ARRC has a Small Procurement that is funded in whole or in part by the Federal Transit Administration, the ARRC procurement officer will check to see if any of the quotes provided is from a small business registered on the ARRC Interested Small Business List.  If not, the procurement officer will contact a small business listed on the Interested Small Business List that offers the types of goods and/or services called for by the procurement (if there is one).  The business contacted will then be given the opportunity to provide a quote to the ARRC within a time frame established by the ARRC.

 Q: What “small businesses” are eligible to participate in this program?

A: In order to be eligible to participate in this program, a small business must fulfill two requirements: (1) the business must meet the then-current size standards for a small business, as established by the U.S. Small Business Administration www.sba.gov to determine whether your business meets this definition); and (2) the business must be currently registered with the U.S. System of Award Management SAM)www.sba.gov.

Q: How do I know if my business falls within the standards for a small business established by the SBA?

A: For help, you may contact the Alaska District Office of the SBA at 907.271.4022 or check online at www.sba.gov.

 Q: How do I register my small business with SAM?

A: Go to www.sba.gov or call toll-free 866.606.8220.

Q: Once I am confident that my small business is eligible to participate, how do I register with the ARRC?

A: To have your small business placed on the ARRC’s Interested Small Business List, go to http://www.alaskarailroad.com/ and click on “Suppliers,” then “DBE,” then “Small Business Element.”

Q: What if there is more than one business on the Interested Small Business List that provides the type of goods and/or services called for by the procurement?

A: In that case, the procurement officer rotates the opportunity to provide a quote equally between or among the registered small businesses, starting with the business that registered first with

the ARRC.

Q: Does this Small Business Outreach Program apply to all procurements at the ARRC?

A: No. The program only applies to Small Procurements funded in whole or In part by the Federal Transit Administration.

Q: By participating in this program, do I get a preference on small procurements?  Am I guaranteed a contract with the ARRC?

A: No. All ARRC procurements are awarded according to the ARRC Procurement Rules (Nov 12, 2013), which may be found here.

Q: Does the ARRC use quotas in this program to make sure that it awards procurements to small businesses?

A: No.

Q: If I have a complaint about the Small Business Element, can I file a protest under the ARRC’s Procurement Rules?

A: No. The purpose of the Small Business Element is simply to encourage the participation of small businesses in certain ARRC procurements. It does not create any kind of “right” on the part of a small business to participate or to be the successful recipient of a contract with the ARRC.