DBEs are for-profit small business concerns where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51 percent 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 that does not exceed $1.32 million. To be seen as a small business, a firm must meet SBA size criteria and must not have average annual gross receipts, over the previous three years, in excess of 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

The U.S. Department of Transportation DBE regulations require state and local transportation agencies that receive DOT financial assistance to establish goals for the participation of DBEs. Each DOT-assisted state and local transportation agency is required to establish annual DBE goals and review the scopes of anticipated large prime contracts throughout the year and establish contract-specific DBE subcontracting goals.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Goal
Gwinnett County Transit has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26. Read the proposed FY 2023-2025 DBE Goal (PDF).

DBE Objectives

• To ensure that small DBEs can compete fairly for federally funded transportation-related projects
• To ensure that only eligible firms participate as DBEs
• To assist DBE firms in competing outside the DBE program

There has been, since 1983, a statutory provision requiring DOT to ensure that at least 10 percent of the funds authorized for the highway and transit financial assistance programs be expended with DBEs. DOT has established a single DBE goal, encompassing both firms owned by women and minority group members.

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.