Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Information

DBE Program Overview

Information regarding the DBE Program (as well as the DBE program obligations of Metro bidders may be found in "Appendix B" of any Metro solicitation.

Metro assigns DBE participation goals on a contract-by-contract basis on federally funded construction contracts having a total dollar value greater than $500,000 and on non-construction procurements (i.e. contracts for services, supplies, and equipment) having a total value greater than $100,000. Due to a concept called "narrow tailoring," not all contracts will have a DBE goal assigned.

The goal may be satisfied by utilizing one or more DBE's as joint venture partners, subcontractors or suppliers of goods and services of any kind or nature, provided that the DBE performs the tasks awarded when the contract was executed. DBE firms may also participate as prime contractors.

Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 26, it is the policy of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) that disadvantaged business enterprises (businesses owned by women and minorities) as defined by U.S. Department of Transportation regulation 49 CFR Part 26 shall have a fair opportunity to compete for and participate on Metro contracts and subcontracts. For more information, please read about our Small Local Business Program PDF .

DBE certification

Only the participation of minority and women-owned firms that have been certified by WMATA's Office of Community Relations as DBE's can be counted towards satisfaction of the goal. If you are a small, minority or woman-owned business, you are especially encouraged to participate in our business opportunities. The Office of Community Relations publishes an online DBE Directory, which provides information regarding available DBE's in all or nearly all construction trades, as well as providers of all types of goods and services. The Directory's database is continuously supplemented and updated.

Bidders experiencing difficulty locating certified DBE participants are encouraged to contact the Office of Community Relations for assistance (see contact information below).

Home State Certification

The policy governing "Home State" Certification can be found in 49 CFR Part 26.81 (3)(d). A UCP is not required to process an application for certification from a firm having its principal place of business outside the state if the firm is not certified by the UCP in the state in which it maintains its principal place of business. The "home state" UCP shall share its information and documents concerning the firm with other UCPs that are considering the firm's application.

For WMATA purposes you are considered "Home State" if your principal place of business is located within our transit zone:

The WMATA transit zone consists of the District of Columbia, the suburban Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George's and the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church.

If you are located outside of our transit zone please see the Department of Transportation's State DOT and DBE Program Web page to find your home state certification agency.

DBE application for certification

Please review all documents for completeness before submission. The primary cause of delayed certification is lack of documentation supporting the certification submitted. Please use the check off list provided and check off all necessary documents prior to submission.

Application
Check off list
Additional forms and information that prospective DBE vendors should gather before you begin the registration process.

Modified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Reciprocity Certification Program launched

At the September 12, 2008 regional summit to address transportation and safety issues in the metro area, Maryland's Governor O'Malley, Virginia's Governor Kaine, and District of Columbia's Mayor Fenty committed to a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) PDF agreeing to streamline the certification process for local Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBE) wanting to participate in federally funded transportation projects throughout the Washington metropolitan region.

Any MD, VA or DC firm that is certified as a DBE/ACDBE in its Home State by one of the following five agencies is eligible to participate:

the District Department of Transportation (DDOT);
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro);
the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT);
the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (DMBE); and
the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).

Under the MOU, DBE firms applying for certification in Maryland that are already certified by one of the agencies above will need to submit only the following documents to MDOT to initiate the certification process:

the Uniform Certification Application;
a Personal Net Worth statement;
individual federal tax return for latest tax year;
firm's federal tax return for the latest tax year;
a copy of the latest letter of certification received by the DBE/ACDBE from its Home State; and
a Certificate of Good Standing from Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, where applicable.

The goal of the regional certification consortium and streamlined application process is to increase the number of certified DBEs and ACDBEs in the local marketplace and, subsequently, to increase the participation of small disadvantaged businesses in public contracting in the Washington region.

The UCP Certified DBE Vendor Directory

The Metropolitan Washington Unified Certification Program (MWUCP) has been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Highway Administration for implementation. This was done to create efficiencies and streamline the certification process. A UCP has been formed between the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (ddot) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro). The database is searchable by NAICS Code.

Current and comprehensive list of all certified vendors PDF

MWUCP standard operating procedures PDF

Public notice regarding DBE goals

Metro hereby provides notification of its proposed goal for obtaining participation by certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms in U.S. Department of Transportation financially assisted contracts. The proposed DBE goal for Federal Fiscal Year 2009, which begins October 1, 2008 and ends September 30, 2009, is 25%.