Main Eligibility Requirements for DBE Certification

What are the main eligibility requirements for DBE certification?

Ownership – Your business must be 51% owned by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s).

“Disadvantaged” – You may be eligible if you are a member of a group of persons the Department considers as disadvantaged. The Department presumes certain groups are disadvantaged, including women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian-Pacific Americans, or other minorities found to be disadvantaged by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Persons who are not members of one of the above groups and own and control their business may also be eligible if they establish their “social” and “economic” disadvantage. The Department notes, for example, that people with disabilities have disproportionately low incomes and high rates of unemployment, and that many may be socially and economically disadvantaged. A determination of whether an individual with a disability meets DBE eligibility criteria is made on a case-by-case basis.

Business Size Determination – A firm (including its affiliates) must be a small business as defined by SBA standards. It must not have annual gross receipts over $28.48 million in the previous three fiscal years ($52,470,000 for airport concessionaires in general with some exceptions). Under MAP-21, this threshold will be adjusted annually for inflation by the Secretary.

Personal Net Worth – Only disadvantaged persons having a personal net worth of less than $1.32 million can be considered as a potential qualified DBE.  Items excluded from a person’s net worth calculation include an individual’s ownership interest in the applicant firm, and his or her equity in their primary residence.

Independence – Only an independent business may be certified as a DBE. An independent business is one the viability of which does not depend on its relationship with another firm or firms.

Control – A disadvantaged owner seeking certification must possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the firm.  The owner must also have an overall understanding of, and managerial and technical competence and experience directly related to, the type of business in which the firm is engaged.

Burden of Proof Allocation – Applicants carry the initial burden of proof regarding their eligibility and must demonstrate that they meet all requirements concerning group membership or individual disadvantage, business size, ownership, and control.

Policy Statement

The City of Fresno has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program in accordance with the regulations of the U.S Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26 and 49 CFR Part 23. The City of Fresno in the past has received federal financial assistance from the Department of Transportation and as a condition of receiving this future/ongoing assistance, the City of Fresno has signed an assurance that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26 (part 26) and 49 CFR Part 23 (part 23).

It is the policy and commitment of the City of Fresno to ensure that DBEs as defined in part 26 and part 23, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-assisted contracts. It is also our policy:

• To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts;
• To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for contracts and subcontracts relating to construction, professional services, supplies, equipment, materials, and other services for DOT-assisted contracts;
• To ensure that the DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
• To ensure that only firms that meet 49 CFR Part 26 and 49 CFR Part 23 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs;
  • To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts;
• To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the DBE Program; and
• To outreach to local firms and encourage certification and participation in the DBE Program.

The Director of Public Works for the City of Fresno has the general responsibility for implementing council policy.

The Purchasing Manager, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno CA 93721, (559) 621-1332 has been designated the DBE Liaison Officer. The DBE Liaison Officer has direct, independent access to the City Manager concerning DBE Program matters. The City shall ensure that the DBE Liaison Officer is at all times provided with staff adequate and sufficient to administer the DBE Program in compliance with 49 CFR Part 26 and 49 CFR Part 23, including a DBE Program Coordinator. The DBE Liaison Officer is responsible for implementing and administering all aspects of the DBE Program. Implementation of the DBE Program is accorded the same priority as compliance with all other legal obligations incurred by the City in its financial assistance agreements with the DOT.

The DBE operating expenditures participation shall be delegated and administered directly by the departments which, at minimum, contribute to the overall goals of the City as a whole.

This policy statement will be circulated throughout the City of Fresno departments and the community in general. Copies of this policy will be sent to DBE and to non-DBE business communities that perform work for us on DOT-assisted contracts.

2016 City of Fresno Disadvantage Business Enterprise Program Plan

2016 City of Fresno Disadvantage Business Enterprise Program Plan 

Exhibit 9-B Local Agency DBE Annual Submittal Form 2022-2023 Annual Report

Exhibit 9-B Local Agency DBE Annual Submittal Form 2022-2023 Annual

FAX Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) FY21 Triennial Goal Setting

Please provide feedback on the proposed triennial DBE goal before July 21, 2021.

FY21 DBE Overall Goal Public Presentation

Fresno Yosemite International Airport – DOT/FAA-Goals (FYIA)

Fresno Yosemite International Airport – DOT/FAA-Goals (FYIA)

DBE Certifications Applications

To renew or apply for DBE and or ACDBE certification(s), you should follow the below steps:

• Log in to https://fresno.dbesystem.com/
• Click the Renew/Apply for Certification link in the “Key Actions” box.
• Select the options that are appropriate for your company.
• Answer the eligibility questions.
• Preview the document list and click the Continue button to the application.
• Click on Process to complete each section.

A green arrow will indicate that the section is complete. All documents that are required will be listed on the document list of the online application.

How to Find a Certified DBE firm

You should visit the State of California DBE Serch website. It will provide a searchable listing of all certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) firms eligible to perform work under the federal DBE Program.

Change Request for Certified Firms

Currently, certified firms looking to change or expand commodity code, ownership, business address, etc. must visit the City of Fresno DBE portal to access their online account. In addition, currently certified firms looking to make simple changes like telephone numbers, email addresses, fax numbers, web addresses, etc. must visit the City of Fresno DBE portal to access their online account.