The Florida Department of Transportation's DBE Program, administered by the Equal Opportunity Office,
is intended to remedy past and current discrimination against
disadvantaged business enterprises, ensure a level playing field and
foster equal opportunity and non-discrimination in DOT-assisted
contracts, improve the flexibility and efficiency of the DBE program,
and reduce burdens on small businesses.
CERTIFICATION
WHY DBE?
Why should companies
become certified as a DBE?
This is a unique certification that applies to
DOT only. The Department is committed to utilizing DBEs in its
transportation program and has established a race neutral goal
of 8.60% for the utilization of DBEs on all contracts.
Additionally, the Department encourages all prime contractors
and consultants to use FDOT DBEs.
The goals are met by utilization of DBEs as
subcontractors/subconsultants or prime contractors/consultants
on projects. Managerial and technical supportive services are
provided to DBEs to enhance their ability to perform on
transportation projects. The Department offers DBE Supportive
Services providers to assist DBE firms in these areas.
To see the providers and
services, please click here.
HOW DO I BECOME CERTIFIED?
How does a company
become certified as a DBE?
Companies must
complete the State of Florida, Department of Transportation, DBE
Unified Certification Application.
When completing these applications it is
very important to read instructions carefully, print in ink or
type, answer each question completely, provide all requested
documents, answer "N/A" to questions or supporting documents
that do not apply to the applicant firm, and make certain the
application is signed and notarized by a notary public who is
not an owner, officer or director of the firm.
Please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at
(850) 414-4747 to request an application or obtain online.
click here
for more information on becoming certified with FDOT.
click here
for the application.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
The decision to
approve or deny an application will take no longer than 90 days
after a complete application, including all the supporting
documentation and other information requested, has been
received.
Applications that are not complex
and do not have any major issues or concerns will usually be
processed sooner, while those that are complex and have issues
that need a more detailed review will take longer and may
required the full 90 days.
WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
If your firm engages in or that intend
to engage in
road, highway or bridge
planning, design, construction or maintenance related goods and
services: submit your DBE application to FDOT, regardless of
your location in Florida.
If your firm engages in or intends to
engage primarily in
airport related
goods and services, include concessions, submit your DBE
application to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Certifying Member located closest to your primary place of
business or with the FAA Certifying Member whom you have an
on-going contractual relationship.
If your firm engages in or intends to
engage primarily in
transit related
goods and services, include concessions, submit your DBE
application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Certifying Member located closest to your primary place of
business or with the FTA Certifying Member whom you have an
on-going contractual relationship.
To see a list of
UCP certifying member, please
click here
WHAT IS THE UNIFIED CERTIFICATION
PROGRAM (UCP)?
The purpose of the UCP is to provide
"one-stop shopping" to applicants for certification, such that
an applicant is required to apply only once for a DBE
certification that will be honored by all recipients in the
state. In the past, a firm would be required to apply for
certification as a DBE with each agency with which the firm
wants to work. Under UCP, the firm applies one time with the
state transportation agency, and if approved, that certification
is shared by all other federal recipients in the state.
WHAT IS DBE
CERTIFICATION PROCESS?
When a DBE application is received, within
the first seven days the application is reviewed to determine if
the application is complete and that all requested documentation
is attached.
If the application is
not complete, a letter will be sent to the applicant requesting
the additional information that is required to make the file
complete.
It is extremely important to
provide all the information requested.
A checklist that accompanies the
application provides a detailed list of all the information
needed.
If you do not have an item on the
checklist, state the reasons this information is not available.
Once the application
is complete and all the supporting documentation has been
received, the application will be thoroughly reviewed and an
on-site visit to your office will be scheduled.
Usually the Equal Opportunity
Office staff member conducting the on-site visit will have
multiple visits in the same geographical area.
After the on-site
review is conducted, the staff member conducting the review will
complete a write-up that summarizes the on-site review
information along with the other supporting documentation
provided with the application.
When this analysis is complete, the
application file is submitted to the DBE Certification Manager
who thoroughly reviews the file and makes a recommendation to
certify or deny the firm to the Manager, Equal Opportunity
Office who makes the final decision.
If certified, the DBE
Certification Manager will update the DBE Certification
Directory and send a certification letter to the applicant.
If denied, the DBE Certification
Manager will send a denial letter to the applicant stating the
reasons for the denial and explaining how the applicant can
appeal the decision.
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DBE PLAN OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the DBE Program are:
To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and
administration of DOT-assisted contracts in the Departments
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 Departments DBE
program is narrowly tailored in accordance with
applicable law;
To ensure that only firms that fully meet 49
CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate
as DBEs; to help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in
DOT-assisted contracts;
To assist the development of firms that can
compete successfully in the market place outside the DBE
program; and
To provide appropriate flexibility to
recipients of federal financial assistance in establishing and
providing opportunities for DBEs.
DBE PROGRAM
Administered by the
Florida Department of Transportation Equal Opportunity Office
(850) 414-4747
Federal Program and State Program
Applies to DOT only
Nationwide Firms
$22.41 Million Avg. Receipts
Federal Program
Road and Bridge Construction/Consultant
8.60% Goal
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Business
Directory
This application is a search engine
for the FDOT's Business Directory. Firms in the
following certification categories can be found in the
Directory.
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UCP-DBE
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Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise as certified
by member agencies in the Florida Unified Certification
Program |
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MBE
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Minority Business Enterprise as
certified by the State of Florida |
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OBE
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Non-certified Business |
click here
for the DBE Directory
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BID OPPORTUNITY LIST
The Department is required to maintain a database of all
firms that are doing business with or seeking to do business on
DOT-assisted contracts. The list must include all firms that bid
on prime contracts or bid or quote subcontracts on DOT-assisted
projects, including both Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and
all other subcontractors. The information on the Bid Opportunity
List should be completed for each sub contractor or
sub-consultant that the prime contractor or consultant has
contacted or who has contacted the prime contractor or
consultant on a specific Department of Transportation contract
or proposal. This information should be mailed, faxed or
e-mailed to the Equal Opportunity Office. You may also submit
the Bid Opportunity List with your bid or proposal package.
Documents
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EMERGENCY INFORMATION - To be displayed on a situational basis. Hidden otherwise.
