Man standing next to a blue semi

Interested in DBE/ACDBE or SBE Certification?

The DBE/ACDBE & SBE Programs provide business assistance to contribute to the growth and self-sufficiency of businesses in the transportation industry. Services include business skill development and training, networking opportunities, bonding assistance, and more.

Eligibility Criteria

DBE/ACDBE/SBE

  • A business (including affiliates) must be a small business as defined by SBA standards. Find the table of size standards based on your business’s work type (NAICS Code) here.
  • Even if the business is a small business under SBA standards, annual gross receipts over the previous 3 years must be less than $31.84 million.
  • The majority owner(s) of the company must have a personal net worth under $2,047,000 (excluding equity in applicant/certified business, primary residence, and retirement accounts).
  • Business must be organized for profit. Not-for-profit organizations are not eligible.
  • The majority owner(s) must:
    • Own 51% or more of the company.
    • Be a citizen (or lawfully admitted permanent resident) of the United States.
    • Submit a Personal Net Worth (PNW) statement and any other financial information they consider relevant.

Additional Requirement for DBE/ACDBE

  • Provide a Personal Narrative (PN). In the PN, the owner(s) must:
    • Demonstrate social and economic disadvantage affirmatively based on their own experiences and circumstances within American society, without regard to race or sex.
    • Establish their disadvantage by a preponderance of the evidence based on individualized proof by providing 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, non-disadvantaged persons.
    • State how and to what extent the impediments caused the owner economic harm, including a full description of type and magnitude, and establish the owner is economically disadvantaged in fact relative to similarly situated non-disadvantaged individuals.

Unsure if you qualify? Please contact us at mdtdbeprogramXYZmtABCgov.

How Do I Apply?

Submit certification documents via the File Transfer Service: https://transfer.mt.gov. When prompted to add an email address enter mdtdbeprogramXYZmtABCgov.
A Business Development Specialist is assigned to each business.

In State Applicants
Complete the forms below and provide the supporting documentation listed at the end of the application.

DBE Program Forms (note: DBEs are automatically eligible for the SBE Program. Do not fill out both sets of forms)

ACDBE/DBE Personal Narrative
ACDBE/DBE Application
ACDBE/DBE Personal Net Worth Form

SBE Program Forms

SBE Application
SBE Applicants must also complete a ACDBE/DBE Personal Net Worth Form.

Out of State Applicants
Please email the following to mdtdbeprogramXYZmtABCgov:
(1) A cover letter that specifies that your business is a DBE/ACDBE applying for interstate certification, and identifies all UCPs in which the DBE/ACDBE business is certified (including the UCP that originally certified your business);
(2) An electronic image of the UCP directory of the original UCP that shows the DBE/ACDBE certification; and
(3) A new Declaration of Eligibility (DOE).

Reporting Changes & Annual Documentation

You must report changes that may impact your eligibility.

ACDBE/DBE Change Report – Print and fill out
ACDBE/DBE Change Report – Fill out online

Certified businesses are required to submit a Declaration of Eligibility and a copy of their most recent business taxes on their anniversary date.

ACDBE/DBE Declaration of Eligibility (DOE)
SBE Declaration of Eligibility (DOE)

If you would like to end your participation in the ACDBE, DBE or SBE Program, please submit the form below:

Notice of Voluntary Removal

Program Benefits

Reimbursements

In-state, highway related businesses are eligible for up to $2,500 per year for bonding, training, professional memberships, and travel costs associated with training. Fill out the form here: Reimbursement Request Form

Business Development Program (BDP)

If you are an in-state DBE or SBE certified business but haven’t been able to break into contracting with MDT as a prime or subcontractor or consultant, the BDP may be for you. Participants of the BDP work with a Business Development Specialist to put together an individualized business plan that includes steps to help you succeed. This may include meeting with MDT staff to provide information on bidding, RFP scoring, testing standards, certified payroll requirements, etc. or it may include a technical training that your staff need. Participants of the BDP are eligible for an additional $1,000 in reimbursement funding (for a potential total of $3,500). Let us know if you would like to sign up!

Directory

Another way to market your business! The Directory includes all businesses who are DBE/ACDBE/SBE certified. It includes your business contact information and types of work you perform. Prime contractors use this to contact you for subcontractor proposals on projects.

Quote Request System

You may opt into the Quote Request System. Contractors can send an email to all businesses under a specific work type. An efficient way to bid on projects for a prime contractor!