US DOT announces changes to DBE program

News - Published Nov 03, 2014

In early October, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) revealed its final revisions to the disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program.

The new rules amend the uniform certification application and reporting forms, create a uniform personal net worth form for use by applicant owners, and strengthen program enforcement.

For example, under the new guidelines:

A DBE owner may be disqualified if there is evidence that he or she is not economically disadvantaged; A good faith efforts by prime contractors will be deemed unresponsive if they rejects a DBE's quote simply because it is not the low bidder; The cap on statutory gross receipts  The cap on statutory gross receipts (i.e., the average annual gross receipts over the previous three fiscal years) for DBEs is increased from $22.41 million to $23.98 million.

To learn more about the revisions to the DBE program, visit: www.civilrights.dot.gov/disadvantaged-business-enterprise