How Do I Get Certified?
The USDOT issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that went into effect on 10/3/2025. The IFR removed the presumption of social and economic disadvantage. Firms that were DBE certified prior to 10/03/2025 must be reevaluated under the new eligibility requirements. Per the IFR, the MNUCP is prioritizing the reevaluations of the previously certified DBE firms and is not accepting new applications at this time.
The DBE program is for business owners that are socially and economically disadvantaged. To satisfy the social and economic disadvantage (SED) requirement and ensure all determinations of disadvantage are not based in whole or in part on race or sex, an owner must provide the certifier a Personal Narrative (PN) that establishes the existence of disadvantage by a preponderance of the evidence based on individualized proof regarding specific instances of economic hardship, systemic barriers, and denied opportunities that impeded the owner's progress or success in education, employment, or business, including obtaining financing on terms available to similarly situated persons who did not face barriers in obtaining terms.
All SED owner(s) that make up the majority ownership must have a personal net worth that does not exceed $2.047 million.
A firm must meet Small Business Administration size criteria AND have average annual gross receipts not to exceed $31.84 million when averaged over a three year period.
The SED owner(s) must have technical competence and experience directly related to the type of work in which certification is being sought and must be a United States citizen or a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States.
Size limits for the Airport Concessions DBE program are higher.
These are the basic steps to become a DBE.
-
Complete and Submit DBE Application that include a personal narrative for each owner that makes up at least 51% ownership in the applicant firm.
-
A Specialist from a certifying agency will review application to determine eligibility.
-
A Specialist will perform an On-site Visit
-
The MnUCP will vote on the eligibility
-
You will be notified about determination
Apply online with the ACDBE/DBE certification application.
NOTE: It is recommended to use Google Chrome browser
- You may download a PDF Version of the application
- Personal Net Worth Statement Form (PNW)
- If you are an out-of-state DBE certified firm looking to obtain INTERSTATE CERTIFICATION in Minnesota, please complete this request for Interstate Certification
For more information feel free to contact us or visit our About the DBE Program page.
There are three certifications that may benefit small businesses in Minnesota. The links are below:
- Targeted Group/Economically Disadvantaged/Veteran/Veteran (TG/ED/VO) Small Business Program: http://www.mmd.admin.state.mn.us/mn02001.htm
- The Central Certification (CERT) Program: https://cert.smwbe.com/FrontEnd/StartCertification.asp?TN=cert&XID=6057