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Ratification of B2Now Software Subscription Renewal and Amendments
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DESCRIPTION: Ratification of the Service Agreement Award between Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and B2GNow |
AGENDA NO: 26-145 |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the Ratification of the Service Agreement Award between Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and B2Gnow for continued licensing and maintenance of RTA’s DBE compliance-monitoring system through August 31, 2028.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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When TransDev managed the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), one of the software systems brought on board for RTA via a competitive selection process (RFP 2011-004) was the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) DBE compliance monitoring system, called B2Gnow (ref Resolution 11-058, July 2011). TransDev used this software to manage DBE registration and certification making the process much easier for both staff and DBE contractors. First implemented in August 2011, annual renewals were procured via Sole Source (greater than $25,000.00)
What is a DBE Compliance Monitoring System
A DBE Compliance Monitoring System is a software platform and administrative process used by government agencies and within the transportation industry to track subcontractor utilization, verify certified payments, and enforce federal 49 CFR Part 26 regulations. Requirements for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program fall under two main umbrellas: firm certification standards and contractual project compliance. RTA Supplier Diversity Office uses B2Gnow to register and certify eligible vendors.
Transition to Direct Public Management
After the transition to direct public employee management in 2020, staff took over a number of subscriptions and annual service payments, including B2Gnow for DBE compliance monitoring by the Supplier Diversity Office. Starting in 2022, staff began to migrate agreement / contract management of all RTA software products from user departments to management by the Information Technology Department to better regulate security and costs, as well as, reduce redundancy and inefficiency. During this transition it was discovered there was no record of the original signed agreement for B2Gnow executed by Transdev; instead, the existing software subscription was continued through purchase orders for invoices on variable billing cycles. These payments totaled $120,450 from 2020 through August 2023 as show in table below.
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Payment Year |
Cost |
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2020 |
$30,500.00 |
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2020 |
$30,500.00 |
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2021 |
$30,500.00 |
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2021 |
$15,000.00 |
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2023 |
$15,000.00 |
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2023 |
$30,225.00 |
New Agreement
When the subscriptions were due for renewal in 2023, IT staff negotiated a five-year agreement that unified billing to an annual cycle and locked in the rates through August 31, 2028 based on a maximum capacity of 200 contracts, applications and certifications. This capacity was based on the then needs of the Supplier Diversity Office - the primary user of B2Gnow. This agreement was executed on 8/23/2023 for total value of $162,744.00. Annual invoices were then processed for payment through annual requisitions and approved purchase orders.
In early 2025, due to the increasing number of DBE firms doing business with the RTA, Supplier Diversity Office reached the maximum capacity of 200 certifications necessitating a mid-year adjustment in price or “uplift” to add additional firms. An uplift agreement was executed on March 24, 2025, for $1,803.25 (change order to 2024 purchase order) that increased capacity to 400 certifications for the then current billing year, 2024. On August 27, 2025, RTA executed an update of rates on the remaining billing years, 2025 - 2027 (expiring August 31, 2028) to continue with the updated capacity of 400 certifications through those years bring the total agreement value to $181,601.73.
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Payment Year |
Paid Amount |
Future Payment |
Note |
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2023 |
$30,255.00 |
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2024 |
$30,925.15 |
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2025 |
$1,803.25 |
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Change order to 2024 for uplift |
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2025 |
$37,881.15 |
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2026 |
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$39,775.21 |
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2027 |
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$41,763.97 |
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Total |
$181,601.73 |
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DISCUSSION:
Continuing RTA’s DBE compliance monitoring system, B2Gnow, is critical to effectively managing registrations and certifications of DBE and SBE firms doing business with RTA, particularly with the federal government changing the rules of the DBE program, requiring all firms to be re-certified.
Staff seek to rectify the existing situation, while ensuring continuity of this essential software and puts forth a resolution that will address and fund the remaining term of the agreement. Staff requests the ratification of the Service Agreement Award between RTA and B2Gnow for continued licensing and maintenance of RTA’s DBE compliance-monitoring system through August 31, 2028, as amended in August 27, 2025.
Continued access is necessary to avoid disruption to RTA’s DBE and small-business compliance monitoring while staff competitively procures and implements a replacement system. The Information Technology Department will prepare a new procurement, submit the results to the Board for review and award, and complete implementation between now and the expiration of the current 5-year agreement in 2028.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The amended contract value is $181,601.73. Pending Board approval, the remaining cost for RTA Compliance Monitoring System, B2Gnow, totaling $81,539.18, will be paid in annual installments according to the amended agreement rates. The funding is currently available through IT Department’s annual operating budget, account code 01-2900-02-7140-170-00-00-00000-00000.
NEXT STEPS:
Following Board Ratification of the Service Agreement Award between Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and B2Gnow, the RTA Information Technology Department will pay the 2026 amount of $39,775.21 and begin preparations for a new procurement to be initiated later in 2027.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Procurement summary/ Routing sheet
3. Quote Clarification email
4. B2G Renewal 2023 (FE) 8/23/2023
5. B2G Uplift (FE) 3/24/2025
6. B2G Renewal 2025 (FE) 8/27/2025
7. 2011-058 B2Gnow Resolution (signed)
8. 2011 Procurement Packet
Prepared By: Doris O’Sullivan
Title: Senior Project Manager of Information Technology
Reviewed By: Sterlin Stevens
Title: Director of Information Technology
Reviewed By: Dwight Norton
Title: Chief of Capital Projects & Planning
Reviewed By: Gizelle Johnson Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
9/30/2026
Ronald Baptiste Date
Interim Chief Executive Officer