The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a final rule that modernizes the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) program regulations. The agency says the rule will improve inclusion of small, disadvantaged business in infrastructure opportunities and in airport concessions.
“The major objectives of this final rule include modernizing existing principles to: improve provisions for the benefit of program participants, reduce burdens on firms and recipients, grow firm capacity and owner wealth, and improve program integrity, visibility, and data collected by the USDOT,” the USDOT said in announcing the new rule.
Key changes made to the DBE and ACDBE programs include several provisions that will have a direct impact on eligible firms and the contractors that hire them, such as:
- streamlining the DBE and ACDBE certification and eligibility process
- adjusting the personal net worth (PNW) cap for inflation for small business owners, including excluding retirement assets from the calculation.
- formalizing guidance establishing successful COVID-19 flexibilities such as virtual on-site visits, to conserve certification and firm resources
- modernizing the rules for counting participation by DBE material suppliers and clarifying terminology
- addressing specific distinctive issues with the ACDBE programs involving FAA recipients including holdovers in the definition of “long-term exclusive leases” in the ACDBE program,
- replicating the DBE program’s small business element requirements for the ACDBE program
- making technical corrections and other updates such as expediting interstate reciprocity.
- expanding recipient reporting requirements to USDOT to gain greater knowledge of DBE/ACDBE characteristics, bidding/solicitation practices and utilization and overall program impact
- strengthening monitoring and prompt payment requirements
- enhancing ACDBE goal setting and reporting requirements
“Our department believes in making sure that small and disadvantaged businesses, which have historically faced discrimination, can have a fair chance to compete for federally funded transportation work,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Today we are proud to announce a major package of improvements to modernize and streamline the rules around these programs, which are already vital but have the potential to do even more to level the playing field.
“Through this rule change, we’ve addressed many of the challenges DBEs and ACDBEs have faced over the years, and we’re excited that these businesses can now more efficiently and effectively compete for infrastructure projects and airport concessions – something that’s especially important now as President Biden leads the biggest investment in American infrastructure in generations,” Buttigieg added.
USDOT will be hosting a series of trainings and informational sessions beginning April 2024.
