Oakland’s SLBE
Civil Engineering Firm
Calichi holds active SLBE certifications at four Bay Area public agencies. Real deliverables — stamped drawings, hydraulic models, stormwater reports — not letterhead participation. Principal PE on every project.
Enterprise (SLBE)
Enterprise (SLBE)
Enterprise (SLBE)
School District
Calichi Design Group has delivered civil engineering on Bay Area public agency projects for 17+ years — OUSD school sites, City of Oakland infrastructure, Port facilities, and Alameda County capital programs. Our principal engineer is personally on every project. We stamp our own work. Prime contractors bring us in early because we move fast and deliver production-ready engineering: stamped drawings, hydraulic models, stormwater reports, utility coordination packages.
Fee proposals in 5 business days. One-page SLBE bid package with cert numbers, NAICS, and past projects — available on request or download above.
What Is SLBE and Why Does It Matter?
Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) is a certification issued by public agencies to firms that are locally owned, operated, and meet size thresholds. In the Oakland/Alameda County region, the certifying agencies include the City of Oakland, Alameda County, Port of Oakland, and Oakland Unified School District. Each agency maintains its own SLBE-certified vendor registry.
Every public contract awarded by these agencies includes mandatory Local Business Enterprise participation requirements. The standard requirement is 50% LBE participation and 25% SLBE participation on the total contract value. On a $1,000,000 public contract, at least $500,000 must flow to LBE-certified firms, and at least $250,000 must go specifically to SLBE-certified firms.
Large national firms — AECOM, WSP, Kimley-Horn, Michael Baker — hold the prime contracts but are not locally certified. To comply, primes must subcontract meaningful scope to certified SLBE firms. Civil engineering sub-scope — fire flow studies, stormwater design, dry utility coordination, utility research — is a natural fit because it’s well-defined, fee-bounded, and deliverable-focused.
Finding SLBE subconsultants who can execute professional civil engineering — not just provide a name on a compliance form — is difficult. Most SLBE firms are small and lack technical depth. Calichi is an exception: a fully staffed civil engineering firm that holds SLBE certification and delivers production-ready engineering across fire flow, stormwater, joint trench, and utility coordination.
Participation Requirements at a Glance
| Agency | LBE Requirement | SLBE Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| City of Oakland | 50% of contract value | 25% of contract value |
| Alameda County | 50% of contract value | 25% of contract value |
| Port of Oakland | 50% of contract value | 25% of contract value |
| OUSD | 50% of contract value | 25% of contract value |
Participation requirements may vary by contract. Verify current thresholds with the agency’s LBE/SLBE program office.
How Calichi Helps Primes Meet Their SLBE Goals
Calichi can be scoped directly as a civil engineering subconsultant on any qualifying contract. We provide professional-grade deliverables — not letterhead participation — including stamped engineering drawings, hydraulic models, stormwater reports, and utility coordination packages. Our scope slots cleanly into civil engineering line items that primes already need: fire flow studies, C.3 stormwater compliance, dry utility design, and utility research. Contact us early in the proposal stage — we can provide a scope letter and fee estimate in 5 business days.
Our 1-page SLBE bid package has cert numbers, NAICS, contact, key past projects, and standard scope offerings — everything you need for the compliance binder.
Open the SLBE Bid Package →Calichi’s Active SLBE Certifications
- City of Oakland Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE)
- Alameda County Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE)
- Port of Oakland Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE)
- Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE)
Each certification is current and verified with the respective agency — Calichi is a vetted, compliant choice for public contract participation.
What This Means for Your Project
If you’re a general contractor or developer managing a public works project in Oakland or Alameda County, you likely have SLBE participation requirements. Those targets are achievable — you just need the right subconsultants. We bring:
- Active SLBE certification with four major Bay Area public agencies
- Track record on public agency projects (OUSD schools, City of Oakland infrastructure, Alameda County capital improvements)
- Full-service civil engineering — one firm instead of multiple subconsultants
- Familiarity with prevailing wage, public agency procurement timelines, and compliance documentation
Our Services as an SLBE Subconsultant
- Fire Flow Studies & Water System Analysis — ensure adequate water pressure and flow for fire protection; coordinate with water purveyors
- Stormwater Management Design — C.3 MRP compliance, SWPPP prep, BMP selection, water quality treatment
- Dry Utility Consulting — gas, electric, telecom coordination; utility research and relocation design
- Utility Research & Coordination — mark-outs, conflict resolution, early coordination
- Site Civil Design — grading, drainage, street design, parking, ADA compliance; schematic through 100% plans
Agencies We Work With
- City of Oakland (Planning & Building Dept., Public Works)
- Alameda County (Public Works, General Services Agency)
- Port of Oakland (Development Services)
- Oakland Unified School District (Capital Projects, Facilities)
- Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
- Other Bay Area public agencies and special districts
Need an SLBE Civil Engineering Subconsultant?
If you’re managing a public works project in Oakland, Alameda County, or the greater Bay Area and need SLBE participation, we’re ready to help.