Acquisition Hour: The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program: Certification, Benefits and Requirements

In Wisconsin, a number of local government entities including Milwaukee County, WisDOT, MMSD, Dane County and the City of Madison, require participation from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in their procurement process. Both Woman owned and Minority owned businesses can potentially qualify for this program.

The Unified Certification Program (UCP) allows applicants for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program to apply only once for a DBE certification that will be honored by all recipients in the state. In Wisconsin, a number of local government entities including Milwaukee County, WisDOT, MMSD, Dane County and the City of Madison, require participation from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in their procurement process. Wisconsin recognizes the Unified Certification Program of the Wisconsin of Department of Transportation Office of Business Opportunity and Equity Compliance (OBOEC). If a business is DBE certified through OBOEC, City of Madison, County of Dane, or County of Milwaukee, then they can submit documentation of their DBE Certification, complete a Substantially Equivalent Application (SEA), and become MBE, WBE, or DVB Certified with the State of Wisconsin.

The DBE program targets Socially and Economically Disadvantaged firms.  Under the DBE program, woman owned businesses are considered “disadvantaged”.

This certification can be of significant advantage for firms working with government entities that utilize the DBE program.  For example, the DBE program sets aside part of federal highway and transit funds with persons who qualify as disadvantaged small business operators.

For the current fiscal year, the goals were calculated at 12.32% for Federal Highway, 6.04% for Airport Construction project and 1.10% for Transit. WisDOT invests $750 million annually in federal and state dollars for highway, airport and transit projects. These funds translate into millions of dollars in transportation-related contracts and project work for DBE firms.

In this webinar you will learn about:

• Eligibility requirements
• Application process
• Which government entities use the DBE
• Leveraging your DBE certification

Speaker: Tru Mwololo, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

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