Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

• USDOT September 2026 Final Rule 

• USDOT DBE Final Rule FAQs 09-28-2026

• PN Workbook 

DBE Directory Changes

DBE's noted by Region or Area, please refer to this map for location.

There has been an increased number of projects with specified DBE goals.  Due to that fact, one of the main items discussed during the DBE portion of the webinar was the Good Faith Effort (GFE) requirements.

Good Faith Effort (GFE) is defined as: “Efforts to achieve a DBE goal which; by their scope, intensity, and appropriateness to the objective; can reasonably be expected to meet the objective of the Department’s DBE program pursuant to 49 CFR 26.1.”

DBE Special Provision (provisions can be found below) gives more detailed information.  Below is the basic information and important reminders.   

All prime contractors who do not meet or exceed the DBE goal are required to submit GFE documents within two days following notification from the Bid Letting Engineer.  Typically, this is two days following the letting.  Below are the required documents to include when submitting the GFE Package:

1.) Submit a contact log of all solicitation efforts (see Contact Log Template below): 

1. Timeframe for contacting DBEs

   1. DBEs on the plan holders list:

      1. At least 7 calendar days prior to letting

   2. Contacting by mail:

      1. At least 6 calendar days prior to letting

   3. Contacting by email, phone, fax

      1. At least 5 calendar days prior to letting

2. If there is no positive contact, a second solicitation must be made by phone, fax, or email at least 2 business days prior to letting.

2.) Submit documentation that shows GFE

1. Select work items to encourage DBE participation.

2. Solicit all DBEs listed in the work classification and geographic area.

3. Solicit all DBEs on the plan holders list in a timely manner.

4. Follow up with all DBEs if there was no positive contact.

5. Answer any questions that DBEs have about the project.

6. If you reject a DBEs quote, include a detailed explanation.

3.) Consider qualified DBEs whose quotes are reasonably competitive.

1. Include all quotes received.

2. Provide quote comparison document typically a spreadsheet format with each quote broken down by bid items.  (See example of a quote comparison below).

4.) Explain why goal couldn't be met.

5.) Note additional efforts made to secure DBE participation.

Some other key points to remember:

• Be sure to reach out to all sub-contractors to see if any subcontractors are utilizing DBEs. It’s important to list those DBEs that subcontractors may be using on the DBE commitment form when submitting your bid. DBEs that subcontractors may use need to be contacted per the requirements in A.

• Must solicit all eligible DBEs even if normally the supplier would be supplying a subcontractor. 

• Solicit for the entire project for all eligible work groups and appropriate geographic area. 

• Be detailed in your narrative to explain why the goal couldn’t be met and what extra efforts were made. 

• It’s important to submit all the required GFE documents when requested.  The DBE GFE committee can only consider what is submitted.

• Continued solicitation of DBEs following the letting is encouraged but any DBE participation that is not on the DBE Commitment form or obtained “after-the-fact” does not count towards a GFE effort determination. 

• DBEs who may be considered competitors are still required to be solicited and consideration is to be given to any quotes received.

Forms and Documents: 

Contact Log Template.xlsx

Quote Comparison.pdf

If you have additional questions, please contact Kyle Watkins, DBE Coordinator below. 

New Applicants: 

DBE/ ACDBE Certification

• There is no cost to apply for certification as a DBE/ACDBE.

• Submitting an incomplete application package will delay the overall certification process.

• Follow the Documentation Checklist appropriate to your business structure.

• Once a complete application is submitted, SDDOT will conduct an On-Site Review.

• All On-Site Reviews must be recorded per 49 CFR 26.83(c)(1)(i).

Steps to Submit an Application for DBE/ACDBE Certification

1. Download the Uniform Certification Application (UCA).

   • Print UCA form or save it to your desktop.

   • This is the official form to be used for DBE/ACDBE Certification.

2. Read the instructions for completing the application.

3. Complete all sections of the application.

   • Do not leave blanks on the application.

   • Note “N/A” in areas that are not applicable.

   • For areas marked as “N/A,” include a brief statement about why that information is not applicable.

4. Download and complete the required Personal Net Worth (PNW) Form.

   • Read the PNW Guidelines (Instructions) and PNW Overview for guidance on completion of the PNW.

   • Print PNW form or save it to your desktop.

   • This is the official form to be used for DBE/ACDBE Certification.

5. Review the Supporting Document Checklist on the UCA for the Required Documents for All Applicants.

   • This is the official checklists to be used for DBE/ACDBE Certification.

6. Application Submission:

   1. US Mail:                                                                                               

      DBE Program
      South Dakota Department of Transportation
      700 E Broadway Ave
      Pierre, SD 57501-2586
      
      

   2. Electronically:
      Contact Kyle Watkins at kyle.watkins@state.sd.us to set up a SharePoint file share folder

7. Retain a copy of the entire application package for your files.

Uniform Certification Application (UCA).PDF

Personal Net Worth (PNW).PDF

49 CFR PART 26 SUBPART D CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

DBE Application Request

Interstate Certification

Effective May 9, 2024, new federal regulations issued by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) have significantly reduced the number of documents required for the interstate application process. Firms now only need to submit to SDDOT the following documents to receive interstate certification:

• A cover letter to SDDOT requesting certification with SDDOT, which also lists all of the other states in which your firm is DBE certified, including your Jurisdiction of Original Certification (JOC) and your anniversary date in the JOC;

• An electronic image of the UCP directory of the firm’s original UCP that shows its DBE certification (screenshot or snippet). If a screenshot or snippet is unavailable, a copy of the firm’s original certification letter will suffice; and

• A Declaration of Eligibility (DOE)

1.) Electronic Image of UCP Directory

2.) SDUCP INTERSTATE COVER LETTER.PDF

3.) DECLARATION OF ELIGIBILITY & INFO FORM.PDF

Annual Declaration of Eligibility
Please refer to the Annual Declaration of Eligibility (In-state & Interstate firms) tab below.

Annual Declaration of Eligibility:

• Annual Affirmation

  1.) DECLARATION OF ELIGIBILITY & INFO FORM.PDF
   
  2.) Most recent tax return (Gross Receipts)

• Reporting Changes

• Changes in a firm’s circumstances affecting its eligibility, or material changes in the information provided in the firm's application form.

• Submission of the SDDOT Declaration of Eligibility & Info Form and most recent Gross Receipts on the anniversary date of the firm’s certification;

• Work code change/expansion requests;

• Notification of address, phone, or other contact information changes; and

• Withdrawal of certification

• DOT-289 (Certification of DBE Performance and Payments)

• SDDOT DBE Regular Dealer Questionnaire

• DBE Program Guide

• DBE Program Plan

• DBE Goal Methodology FFY 2025 - 2027

• Interstate Application Process

• Supplier Informational Flyer

• Unified Certification Program Agreement
  

49 CFR 26 Participation by DBE's in DOT Programs
49 CFR 23 Participation by DBE's in Airport Concessions

SDDOT FAA 2026 – 2028 DBE Methodology and Goal (Prior to USDOT IFR)

SDDOT FTA 2024 – 2026 DBE Methodology and Goal (Prior to USDOT IFR)

• SDDOT FHWA 2025 – 2027 DBE Methodology and Goal (Prior to USDOT IFR)

• NEW PROPOSED SDDOT FHWA 2027 DBE Methodology and Goal