Missouri DBE Program

The program summary on this page was last updated on 06/18/2018. If any of the information or links are out-of-date, please contact us.

The goal of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is to provide to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses the opportunity to participate more fully in highway construction projects. The program is overseen more specifically but the External Civil Rights Division with MoDOT. A Uniform Certification Application may be made to MoDOT for certification as a DBE. Projects with USDOT funding may have certain DBE participation goals on them, and prime bidders will make a good faith effort to include DBEs in the bidding in order to meet the goal.

Does this local/state program offer reciprocal certifications with other local/state programs? A firm located outside of Missouri seeking to be certified as a DBE in Missouri must first be so certified in its home state, and then follow certain application procedures with the Missouri program.

Does this certification expire? An annual no change affidavit must be provided to MoDOT in order to retain one's DBE certification.

Are there multiple agencies that offer this certification in the state? The direct partners of the Missouri Unified Certification Program (UCP) are MoDOT, the City of St. Louis, Bi-State Development, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, and the City of Kansas City. A number of other Sub-recipient Partners are also specified in the DBE Manual for Missouri.

Does this program require bidders attempt to make a good-faith effort to meet participation goals? Yes, a good-faith effort must be made to be the DBE participation goal on projects where such a goal is attached.