March 7, 2011

DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

CERTIFICATION

Citation Reference

Citation Reference for the requirements of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

certification process:

Federal Department of Transportation DBE Regulation denoted in 49 CFR Parts 23 and 26

Threshold Requirements for

DBE Certification Process

1. Minority and/or women owners must own and control 51 % of the interest in the firm.

2. Minority and women owners must control the management and operational nature of the firm.

3. Minority /women owners cannot have a personal net worth greater than $1,320,000.

4. Applicant firms must meet SBA’s size standard for the North American Industrial Classification System code(s) under which they render service.

5. Firms must be DBE certified in their home state prior to being eligible for DBE certification elsewhere.

To validate that the applicant firms meet the Federal DOT thresholds as

indicated below:

Documentation Needed for DBE

Certification Consideration

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification Application

Personal Net Worth Statement Form

Work experience resume

Personal tax returns for the last three years

Your firm’s tax returns for the last three years

Documented proof of contributions used to secure ownership

Year end balance sheets and income statements for the last three years

Bank authorization and signature card

Copies of signed loan agreements, security agreements and bonding/General Liability Insurance Forms

List of rented or leased equipment and signed rental or lease agreements.

Description of all real estate owned/leased by the form and documented ownership/signed lease.

List of construction equipment and/or vehicles owned and titles/proof of ownership.

All relevant licenses, license renewal forms, permits and hauling authority forms.

Schedules of salaries paid to all officers, managers, owners and /or directors of the firm.

Documented proof of any transfers of assets to/from your firm.

Documentation Needed for DBE

Certification Consideration (cont.)

Official articles on incorporation

Original and any amended partnership or joint venture agreements

Both sides of all corporate stock certificates and your firm’s stock transfer ledger

Shareholder’s agreement

Minutes of all stockholders and board of directors meetings

Corporate by-laws and any amendments

Official certificate of formation and operating agreements with any amendments (for LLCs)

Documentation Needed for DBE

Certification Consideration (cont.)

DBE certification takes between 30 to 60 days to complete:

o Review and analysis of documentation submitted

o Requests for additional information or clarification

o Conduct of a DBE on-site review

DBE certification must be completed prior to the Board of Directors’ authorization to issue a contract.

Only DBE certified firms can be used to meet the DBE goal on a contract.

The DBE goal must be met before the Board of Directors considers a contract for authorization of award.

When Certification must be Completed

Key Players in the DBE Certification Program

Georgia DOT Office Of Contract

Compliance

MARTA’s Office of

Diversity and Equal

Opportunity

Partners in the implementation, administration and monitoring of the Georgia Unified Certification

Program.

DBE Certification Applications and Personal Net Worth Statement Forms may be acquired in either of the following ways :

o From GA DOT’s Office of Contract Compliance

o MARTA’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity

o Following the DBE Certification workshop

o Via the Georgia DOT website and/or the MARTA website

Questions about the DBE Certification Application and Personal Net Worth Statement Forms may be answered by GA DOT and/or MARTA.

Multiple representatives from each agency are present in the workshop.

We also have a representative from the City of Atlanta that can help in this regard.

Where can DBE Certification Applications be Acquired?

A one stop shop for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification for Firms interested in participating on projects that are derivatives of Federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, as well as, other elements of the Federal DOT

Inclusion in the Georgia Unified Certification Program DBE Directory, as well as, any special DBE Directory done by MARTA

Three Year DBE Certification letter that could prompt reciprocity with other Unified Certification Program entities throughout the Country

Free marketing of firms’ capabilities as a result of the distribution of applicable DBE Directories to various sources nationwide

The development of tailored lists of DBEs from the DBE Directory for sharing with primes looking for DBE subcontractors

Benefits of acquiring a Georgia Unified

Certification Program DBE Certification

Questions

Thank you!