Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program

  • 51% percent owned, managed and controlled by one or more economically disadvantaged individual(s)
  • Must be a small business as defined by Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • Personal Net Worth Limit: $2.047 million
  • Gross receipts must not exceed $31.84 million averaged out over three years
  • Firm must be organized as a for-profit business

SBE certification application steps

Jurisdiction of Original Certification (JOC)

For WMATA purposes you are considered "JOC" if your principal place of business is the District of Columbia. Click here if your company is not located in D.C.

Steps to submit an application

  1. Complete the SBE Certification Application
  2. Collect all supporting documents
    • Download and complete the required
    SBE Personal Net Worth Statement
  3. Register as a supplier using WMATA's Supplier Portal. A temporary password will be sent to the email provided during registration.
  4. Apply for Certification; Sign-In using your User ID and Password.
  5. Click on Main Menu then select the certification you're applying for > Add a  New Value

Certification documents

Interstate Certification

Applies to firms located outside the District of Columbia.

Steps to submit an application

Interstate Certification Application Steps
  • Register as a supplier using WMATA's Supplier Portal. A temporary password will be sent to the email provided during registration.
  • Apply for Certification; Sign-In using your User ID and Password.
  • Click on Main Menu then select the certification you're applying for > Add a  New Value

Annual Declaration of Eligibility (DOE)

  • Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) § 26.83j
    • A SBE must provide its certifiers), every year on the anniversary of its original certification, a new DOE, and document gross receipts for its most recently completed fiscal year
    • Gross receipts are to calculated on a cash basis regardless of the SBE's overall accounting method
    • The sufficiency of documentation (and its probative value) may vary by business type, size, history, resources, and overall circumstances
    • Safe harbor documents: (include all reportable receipts, properly calculated, for the full reporting period)
  • Audited financial statements
  • A CPA's signed attestation of correctness and completeness, or all income-related portions of one (or more when there are affiliates) signed and filed Federal Income Tax Returns
  • Noncompliance, whether full or partial, is a § 26.109(c) failure to cooperate

WMATA certified firms must upload through the Supplier Portal, every year on the anniversary of the date of your firm's certification, the SBE Annual DOE and the documents listed below:

  • SBE Annual DOE
  • Proof of Average Gross Receipts for the last year (Example: 2022 Business Federal Tax returns or a CPA Certified Statement)

To apply for annual certification, follow these steps:

  1. Sign-In to WMATA's Supplier Portal using your User ID and Password
    Should you need assistance with your User ID, please email PRMT_suppliersupport@wmata.com
  2. Click on Main Menu then select the certification you're applying for
  3. Upload the DOE and Proof of Average Gross Receipts for the Last Year
  4. Click "Submit Application to WMATA".

Change in ownership

If a change in the ownership, control or management of your firm has occurred, you must submit a written statement immediately subsequent to the change to SBPOHOTLINE@wmata.com