DBE Certification

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) Certification Overview

Firms that meet the requirements found in title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 26 can be certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) to work on transportation projects in the state of Arizona. The requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The socially and economically disadvantaged owner (SEDO) must be a U.S. citizen (or legal resident) and be a member of a socially and economically disadvantaged group.
• The socially and economically disadvantaged owner (SEDO) applying must have a personal net worth (PNW) of less than $2,047,000. Items excluded from personal net worth calculation include an individual's ownership interest in the applicant firm, retirement assets, and his or her equity in their primary residence.

• The firm must be a for-profit business with a five year gross receipts average under $30.72M. The firm also must not exceed the Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards in 13 CFR part 121 for the type of work it performs. The SEDO must own at least a 51% interest, and have managerial and operational control of the business operations; the firm must not be tied to any individuals or other firms in such a way as to compromise its independence and control.

• The SEDO(s) must “run the show,” be the ultimate decision maker, have present control of the board of directors. The SEDO(s) must have an overall understanding of the firm’s operations to the extent necessary to make managerial decisions, and demonstrate a chain of command within the company; must independently make major decisions that affect the firm’s prospects after receiving information from non-decision makers and critically analyzing it based on the owner’s knowledge.
• If state or local law requires a particular license or other credential to own, control and/or operate a certain type of business, then the owner(s) of the DBE firm must possess  that required license or credential.

To start the DBE certification process, you must apply online with one of the Arizona Unified Certification Partners (AZUCP). The AZUCP member you must submit to is determined by the location of the firm and/or type of application. All applications must be submitted as indicated below:  

City of Phoenix – All firms located in Maricopa County, AZ and any firm seeking certification in airport concessions as an ACDBE.  

City of Tucson – All firms located in Pima County, AZ.

Arizona Department Of Transportation – All other firms located outside of Maricopa and Pima Counties, including interstate applicants.

¿Habla español? Toque aquí para el aplicación en español de DBE.

You can contact us at 602.712.7761 or email [email protected] if you need assistance or have further questions.

Annual Updates of Current DBE Certification

Firms that are already DBE certified must update their certification annually to the AZUCP member in which they received certification. The due date is determined by the AZUCP member.

Interstate Certification

Arizona Unified Certification Program (AZ UCP)

Arizona Unified Certification Program
49 CFR part 26.81 requires all recipients of funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in each state to establish a Unified Certification Program (UCP). The UCP allows the certification of a firm to be recognized throughout the state, regardless of who certified, and is recognized by all recipients of federal funds. Each state has its own UCP and to support this requirement, the state of Arizona has established a UCP that includes 3 certifying agencies. The 3 agencies are ADOT, city of Phoenix and city of Tucson.

Take the opportunity to explore the websites of UCP partners below:

Arizona Department of Transportation
Business Engagement and Compliance Office
1801 W. Jefferson St. Suite 101
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602.712.7761

City of Phoenix
Equal Opportunity Department
Business Relations Division
251 W. Washington St.
Seventh Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602.262.6790
TTY: 602.534.1557

City of Tucson
Department of Procurement
City Hall
255 W. Alameda, 6th Floor West
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: 520.791.4217
Fax: 520.791.4735

Note: DBE certification does not pre-qualify firms to serve as prime contractors or prime consultants on ADOT projects. The ADOT prime contractor pre-qualification process to work on construction projects is managed by the Contracts and Specifications section. The ADOT prime consultant pre-qualification process to work on architectural and engineering projects is managed by the Engineering Consultant Section. All companies seeking prime contracting and consulting opportunities with ADOT go through the applicable pre-qualification process.

If you need assistance (virtual or in-person), please contact us to schedule using one of the following three options:

• Email [email protected]
• Complete the BECO Connects Form
• Call 602-712-7761