Under federal regulation 49 CFR Part 26, the U.S. Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program is designed to remedy ongoing discrimination and the continuing effects of past discrimination in federally assisted highway, transit, airport, and highway safety financial assistance transportation contracting markets nationwide. The primary remedial goal and objective of the DBE program is to level the playing field by providing small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Transportation DBE page.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are for-profit small businesses where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest and control management and daily business operations.

Requirements for DBE Participation

To participate in the DBE program, a small business owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals must receive DBE certification from the relevant state through the state Unified Certification Program.

To be regarded as economically disadvantaged, an individual must have a personal net worth below the applicable limit. To be seen as a small business, a firm must meet U.S. Small Business Administration size criteria and must not have average annual gross receipts over the previous three years for more than the DBE size limit.

For additional information about the DBE size limit, visit the U.S. Department of Transportation DBE/ACDBE standards page.

Roles and Responsibilities of State and Local Transportation Agencies

As recipients of DOT financial assistance, state, and local transportation agencies:

• Certify the eligibility of DBE firms to participate in their DOT-assisted contracts
• Establish narrowly tailored goals for the participation of disadvantaged entrepreneurs
• Evaluate their DOT-assisted contracts throughout the year and establish contract-specific DBE subcontracting goals as necessary to achieve the overall goal of the agency
• The level of DBE subcontracting goals may vary; however, by the end of the year, the amount of contract/subcontract awards to DBEs must be consistent with the overall goal

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Goal
As recipients of financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation, state and local transportation agencies:

• Certifies the eligibility of DBE firms to participate in its DOT-assisted contracts
• Establishes goals for the participation of disadvantaged entrepreneurs
• Evaluates its DOT-assisted contracts throughout the year and establishes contract-specific DBE subcontracting goals as necessary
• Ensures that the amount of contract/subcontract awards to DBEs is mostly consistent with the overall goal

Ride Gwinnett has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Part 26. The goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation on contracts assisted by the Federal Transit Administration is 6.71% for fiscal year 2023 to 2025. Read the FY 2023-2025 DBE Goal (PDF).

Currently, Ride Gwinnett is developing the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goals for fiscal year 2026 to 2028 and is seeking public comments.  

The Ride Gwinnett DBE goal is based on demonstrable evidence of the availability of ready, willing, and able DBEs relative to all businesses that are ready, willing, and able to participate in FTA-assisted contracts. The DBE goal reflects the level of DBE participation that would be expected on transit contracts absent from the effects of discrimination. 

The proposed DBE goal and its methodology will be reviewed at the following public outreach events. All interested stakeholders are invited to participate:

• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Webinar, Virtual

• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Lunch and Learn, In-person

Public comments can be made from June 30 to July 30 by email, mail, or phone.

• By email: Transit@GwinnettCounty.com

• In writing by mail:

• By telephone: 770.822.8361

People wishing to comment orally may also email the applicable address above to schedule a call back to submit comments. 

For special accommodations or translation services, residents can call 770.822.8361 at least one week in advance of the public meeting. Gwinnett County assures nondiscrimination in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Since 1983, there has been a statutory provision requiring DOT to ensure that at least 10% of the funds authorized for the highway and transit financial assistance programs be expended with Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. DOT has established a single DBE goal.

To be certified as a DBE, a firm must be a small business owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. To do business as a DBE certified firm, your business must be certified with your home state of business and any other state where you do business.

To see if your small business is eligible and to apply, visit the U.S. Department of Transportation DBE eligibility page.

To begin the certification process for the state of Georgia, please visit the Georgia Department of Transportation DBE page.