North Carolina simplifies DBE certification with new portal

NC News - Published Mar 20, 2020

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has launched a new portal for businesses eligible to become certified disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). The new portal allows for an all-online application process.

While previous certification procedures involved making numerous phone calls and physically submitting various documents, the new system will allow for uploading supporting documents, check application status, and reuse prior information stored in the system as necessary when making updates to one's certification or submitting renewals.

In addition to the DBE program, the State's Small Business Enterprises and Small Professional Service Firms programs will also use the portal for certification purposes.

"This website will allow those businesses to become certified, so they have the same opportunities as all other firms in the transportation business," said Shelby Scales, director of NCDOT's Office of Civil Rights.

The new portal is available at https://connect.ncdot.gov/becertified.