The U.S. Department
of Transportation's
Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise Program.
The Department of Transportation
distributes substantial Federal
funds to finance transportation
projects initiated by State
and local governments,
public transit authorities,
and airport entities.
The DOT is responsible
for ensuring
that all business enterprises
have a fair opportunity
to compete for federally-funded
transportation contracts.
The Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise, DBE program,
is the DOT's strongest tool for
creating a level playing field.
The DBE program began
in 1980 as a minority
and women's business
enterprise program.
The program was established
under the authority of Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
which prohibits racial, ethnic,
and national origin
discrimination,
and other statutes prohibiting
gender discrimination that apply
to DOT financial
assistance programs.
Congress has reauthorized
the DBE program several times
since its inception.
Most recently, Congress
established a continued need
for the DBE program in the
"Moving Ahead for Progress
in the 21st Century Act."
As a condition of receiving
Federal financial assistance,
recipients of funds from the
Federal Highways Administration,
Federal Aviation Administration,
and Federal Transit
Administration are required
to follow the DBE program
regulations located
in 49 CFR parts 26 and 23.
The Departmental Office of
Civil Rights coordinates the
Department's oversight
of the program.
These three Operating
Administrations (FHWA, FAA,
and FTA) are primarily
responsible
for overseeing the day-to-day
administration of the program
by recipients, providing
training
and technical assistance,
and enforcing compliance.
The DBE program remedies
ongoing discrimination
and the continuing effects
of past discrimination
in federally-assisted
transportation contracting
markets nationwide.
The day-to-day administration
of the DBE program is carried
out by recipients
of Federal funds
at the state and local level.
This includes approximating how
much participation is expected
from DBEs by setting an
annual overall DBE goal
that represents the level
of participation anticipated
absent the effects of present
and past discrimination.
Recipients must set an overall
goal for DBE participation
and monitor results to foster
nondiscriminatory environments
and ensure that DBEs
have an equal opportunity
to compete fairly.
The DBE program isn't a
quota or set-aside program.
Instead it's based on narrowly
tailored goals and participation
by prime contractors,
sub-contractors,
and agency partners.
Certification of eligible
firms is a key component
of the DBE program.
But what is a DBE?
A Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise is a for-profit,
small business.
At least 51 percent of the
business is owned by one
or more individuals
who are both socially
and economically disadvantaged.
And the management and daily
business operations are
controlled by one or
more of the socially
and economically
disadvantaged business owners.
Firms meeting the eligibility
standards can contact state
departments of transportation
or state DBE liaison
and certification officers for
instructions on how to apply
for DBE certification.
Each state has a Unified
Certification Program (UCP)
to ensure certification
decisions are honored
by all recipients in that state.
There's also a streamlined
interstate certification process
for existing DBEs wishing to
participate in other states.
A firm must be certified to
be counted toward a DBE goal.
To find out more about the
DBE program, how to apply
to the program, and other useful
contacts, visit the DOT website.
