What is Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification?
- DBE certification is vital for contractors seeking opportunities in federally funded projects, particularly in transportation.
- DBE certification is designed to ensure that small, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses can compete fairly for federally funded transportation projects.
- It opens doors to opportunities in government contracts and helps meet DBE participation goals set by state and local agencies.
DBE Certification Requirements
- Owner(s) must be a member of a socially and/or economically disadvantaged ethnic group (Black Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific and Subcontinent Asian Americans, and women).
- Company must be a for-profit business of at least 51%-owned by a socially and/or economically disadvantaged individual(s) who manages and operates the day-to-day business.
- The majority owner(s) must be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States
- Business meets the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) size standards and does not exceed $23.98 million in gross annual revenue.
- The personal net of the business can no exceed $1.32 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take
to get certified?
The decision to approve or deny an application will take no longer than 90 days after a complete application has been submitted.
what is the cost to become DBE certified?
The Florida Department of Transportation does not charge a fee (It’s FREE) to become DBE certified.
How can I verify if a business is a certified DBE?
The Department maintains a DBE Directory identifying all firms eligible to participate as DBEs.
Florida Department of Transportation
Equal Opportunity Office(EOO)
The Florida Department of Transportation’s DBE Program is managed by the Equal Opportunity Office. The program was initiated with a commitment to increasing the participation of minority/women-owned business enterprises in state and local federally funded projects.
