DBE Certifications in Massachusetts

Explore DBE Certification programs available in the state of Massachusetts

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certifications in Massachusetts

In the state of Massachusetts, businesses and organizations that are majority owned by ‘disadvantaged’ members of the population qualify as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and can be awarded a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification. This certification is exclusive to businesses that are at least 51% owned and operated by minorities who are at a social and economic disadvantage; this includes women, veterans or other minority segments of the Massachusetts population such as people with disabilities. Becoming certified offers many opportunities for your business such as assistance for business practice is included in a program promoted by state and federal governments and your business is considered a Small Business Enterprise.

In addition to opening up to an opportunity to working with federal agencies like the US Department of Transportation, the state of Massachusetts offers in-state programs that utilize the DBE certification program including the Executive Office of Transportation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA), Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project (CA/T), the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (MAC), Worcester Airport, the Massachusetts Port Authority as well as many other regional agencies.

Businesses seeking certification must fit the specified requirements which are as followed.

  • Your business or enterprise must be at least 51% owned and operated by persons who are at a social and economic disadvantage.
  • Manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers must meet an employee size standard which can range between 500 to 1,500 employees. This is determined by your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.
  • Your business size, which is determined by the NAICS code, must provide annual gross receipts over the most recent three years and show you are under a specific dollar amount. The size standards range from $2.5 million average per year to $19.5 million average per year, dependent on your NAICS code.
  • To apply for a DBE, you must submit a Statement of Disadvantage and a Personal Financial Statement to prove your or each owner’s net worth is under $1,320,000.

Statewide Certification

The certification process in the state of Massachusetts is done through the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), which was formerly known as the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA). The SDO reviews and investigates all applications seeking participation in business opportunities so long that the business or enterprise fits the specified requirements. The SDO can help the following business be in-state certified.

  • Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
  • Woman Business Enterprise (WBE)
  • Portuguese Business Enterprise (PBE)
  • Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE)

Unified Certification Program

The Unified Certification Program (UCP) certifies businesses and organizations in the state of Massachusetts as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). Under the program, the major state agencies and transportation departments the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) provides the certifications required. To better understand if you qualify as a business owner who faces. Through UCP, your business or organization can assist on projects funded by the US Department of Transportation. To apply, click and fill out the links below.

Supplier Diversity Program

Created in 2010 to promote diversity in the supply chain of public contracting, the Supplier Diversity Program institutes policies to encourage awards of state contracts in hopes to develop, strengthen and increase business opportunities for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVOBE) and Veteran Business Enterprise.

For-profit entities must meet the following requirements.

  1. Be both owned and controlled by the same eligible principal(s).
  2. Be free of any conversion rights.
  3. Be independent.
  4. Be ongoing.

    Service-disabled Veteran Business Enterprise

    The Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBOE) program was created in order to promote service-disabled veterans to a self-reliable business plan by offering these service-disabled veterans who own or manage a business the opportunity to be apart of in-state contracting activity. Through doing so, this will also help to enhance diversity in the public contracting sector. The program encourages awarding state contracts in order to help develop, enhance and prolong Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise.

    Depending on where your certification came from, here are your options for the application.

    If you were certified by VetBiz/US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). Usually, this means Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBOE):

    • Contact Cami Turcotte, Disability Supplier Diversity Program Coordinator for the US Business Leadership Network, [email protected] to join the program.

    If you were certified by the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). Usually, this means Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBOE):

    Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Massport

    Massport is responsible for creating the policy for the Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise to ensure that ACDBE has an equal opportunity to receive and participate in concessions at the Airports. Massport’s policy is as follows.

    1. To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of opportunities for concessions at the Airports.
    2. To create a level playing field on which ACDBEs can compete fairly for opportunities for concessions at the Airports.
    3. To ensure that Massport’s ACDBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with the regulations and other applicable law.
    4. To ensure that only firms that fully meet the eligibility requirements of the regulations are permitted to participate in ACDBEs at the Airports.
    5. To help remove barriers to the participation of ACDBEs in opportunities for concessions at the Airports
    6. To provide appropriate flexibility to Massport in establishing and providing opportunities for ACDBEs at the Airports.

    To apply, click the link below.

    https://massport.mwdbe.com/