The DBE program is intended to foster equal opportunity, while it reduces burdens among disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE). Through it, a diverse pool of  DBE firms can participate in transportation related projects.

To make it easier for small businesses, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, NJ Transit and the Port Authority of NY/NJ have entered into reciprocal agreements to create the New Jersey Unified Certification Program (NJUCP).

If your firms meets the criteria, it will be automatically entered into the DBE directory for all USDOT grantees in NJ to utilize in locating certified DBE firms. Placement in the DBE directory allows businesses to receive notices of bid advertisements free of charge.  It is also a valuable tool for prime contractors and consultants seeking to achieve their subcontracting goals.   (Note: NJUCP cannot process a new application for DBE certification form a firm that has its principal place of business in another state unless the firm has already been DBE-certified in that state.)

Criteria for DBE certification includes the following:

• The firm* must be at least 51 percent owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. (Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals are citizens, or lawfully admitted permanent residents of the U.S. who are members of one of the following groups: Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian-Pacific American, Subcontinent Asian American, women or any other individual found to be socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by case basis by a certifying agency according to USDOT regulations.)
• The firm must be an independent business and one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged owners must control its management and daily operations.
• Only existing for-profit “small business concerns” as defined by the Small Business Act and Small Business Administration regulations may be certified. DBE applicants are first subject to the applicable small business size standards of the SBA.  Next, the average annual gross receipts for the firm and its affiliates over three previous three fiscal years must not exceed USDOT’s cap of $20,410 million.
• The personal worth of each socially and economically disadvantaged owner must not exceed $750,000, excluding the individual ownership interest in the applicant firm and the equity in his/her primary residence.

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*For airport concession certification: The average annual gross receipts for most firms and its affiliates over the previous three fiscal years must not exceed $30 million. Certain types of businesses have size standards that differ from the standard: banks – $275 million in assets; car rental companies - $40 million average annual gross receipts over three previous fiscal years; pay telephones – 1,500 employees.  A personal net work statement is required.

DBE FAQs  

DBE Applications  can be obtained from: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/business/civilrights/forms.shtm and mailed to any one of the three addresses: