Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide a vehicle for increasing the participation of minority/women-owned business enterprises in state and local procurement. The DOT DBE program is implemented by recipients of DOT Federal Financial Assistance.

You can view the program guidelines at DBE Program Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 26 (49 CFR 26).

At DTPW, we accept DBE certifications through the State of Florida Unified Certification (UCP) Program, as mandated in 49 CFR 26. FDOT maintains an electronic DBE Directory of its certified firms.

Through DTPW’s DBE/Small Business Development & Compliance Office, the department works to engage local firms under the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and to establish project specific participation goals for DTPW’s DOT-assisted projects.

We encourage everyone to become familiar with the federal and local requirements of the DBE Program which warrants the following objectives among others:

Ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts
Reduce burdens on small businesses
Assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside of the DBE program.

DBEs are for-profit small business concerns where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest and also control management and daily business operations.
African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific and Subcontinent Asian Americans, and women are presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged. Other individuals can also qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 26 (as amended) and the Best Practices Procurement Manual (BPPM), Chapter 7, the objectives of the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program are:
- To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts for highway, transit, and airport financial assistance programs
- To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted contracts
- To ensure that the Department's DBE program is intently tailored in accordance with applicable laws
- To ensure that only firms that fully meet the eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs
- To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts
- To promote the use of DBEs in all types of federally-assisted contracts and procurement activities conducted by recipients
- To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the DBE program
- To provide appropriate flexibility to recipients of Federal financial assistance in establishing and providing opportunities for DBEs.
In achieving the foregoing, this safeguards the Department’s contract award and administration of federally funded projects and ensures that firms competing for DOT-assisted contracts are not disadvantaged by unlawful discrimination.

Therefore, to achieve the DBE Program’s stated objectives and in keeping with federal guidelines, DTPW’s DBE Office will provide an independent review of all transit projects and contract solicitations funded in whole or in part with DOT-assistance for applicable DBE measures. Transit-related projects shall include but are not limited to, the purchase and/or solicitations for:
- Goods and Services
- Construction Services
- Professional Service Agreements (Architectural & Engineering Services and Construction, Engineering, and Inspection (CEI) Services)
In general, to be eligible for the DBE program, persons must own 51% or more of a "small business," establish that they are socially and economically disadvantaged within the meaning of DOT regulations, and prove they control their business.
- Average gross receipts averaged over the three previous years must not exceed $30.72* million as of March 1, 2024.
- Personal Net Worth <$2.047 million (excludes personal residence and ownership interest in the company. As amended by the Code)
  - Also excludes retirement assets from the calculation.
  - Removes state marital laws or community property rules from the calculation.
  - Divides “household contents” of primary residence equally, but motor vehicles of any type belong to the owners who hold the title.
- General requirements--the disadvantaged majority owner(s) must “run the show,” be the ultimate decision maker, have present control of the board of directors, have an overall understanding of the firm’s operations to the extent necessary to make managerial decisions, and demonstrate a chain of command within the company.
- Must be controlled and managed by any of the socially and economically disadvantaged U.S. citizen or legal resident categories listed in 49 CFR Part 26.
Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and regulations provided in 49 CFR Part 26 (DBE Regulations), the triennial goal for fiscal years 2024-2026 for the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW-1089) overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, has been set at 21% for the ensuing triennial period. DTPW wishes to achieve this goal through race-neutral means. DTPW commits that it will regularly monitor its progress in achieving the overall goal over the triennial period and will adjust its measures as necessary.

DTPW’s Commitment

DTPW will continue its best efforts in reaching out to those leading firms who are recurring prime contractors to ensure that contracting opportunities are fully promoted and extended to DBEs in the area, prior to considering any race-conscious measures.

Therefore, the Department will continue to practice a combination of race-neutral strategies to maintain and increase DBE participation by:
- Encouraging the use of DBEs who are ready, willing and able to perform as prime contractors
- Ensuring that competitive solicitations are structured in such a manner as to facilitate participation by all DBEs and small minority firms where possible
- Ensuring that DBEs on our mailing list and DBE directory listings are offered advanced notice of upcoming projects and are extended an invitation to attend pre-bid conferences to encourage participation. The Department also ensures the same information is available on its web portal
- Engaging DBEs and small businesses in one-on-one technical assistance meetings in areas of concern where DBEs were underutilized, particularly in areas of marketing and architectural & engineering expertise
- Relaunch the “DBE Roundtable Meetings and Training Sessions”. Roundtable meetings are designed to address industry barriers that prohibit DBEs and other small businesses from attempting to participate in federally funded projects
- Partnering with Miami-Dade Aviation and Small Business Development in their monthly Small Business Outreach meetings. DTPW provides information on: Present and future contracting opportunities with DTPW, How to Prepare Your Business for a Better Day, and Engaging in Healthy Competition
- Unbundling of contracts where and when possible. The Department remains committed to unbundling contracts, particularly where opportunities lie for DBEs and Small Businesses to participate
- Encouraging primes (Construction, Goods & Services, and A/E) to utilize DBEs and other small business concerns for opportunities in their field of expertise through race-neutral means.
In a bid to foster economic growth and inclusivity within Miami-Dade County's transportation and mobility sector, DTPW is thrilled to announce the launch of its 6-month Mulit-Modal Transportation Project Forecast page. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between small and minority-owned businesses and leverage procurement opportunities within the Department of Transportation and Public Works.

This initiative presents a unique opportunity for small and minority-owned businesses to access procurement resources and opportunities ahead of their proposed bid schedule. By leveraging the insights provided in the project forecast, these businesses can enhance their competitiveness and actively participate in county Miami-Dade procurement system, thus, potentially leading to their own growth and overall economic prosperity within the County.