DBE

738 Words2 Pages

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise or DBE is a program under the Department of Transportation and all its satellite offices. The program was created and designed to give an even playing field and competition for many small businesses, especially those classified as minority and woman-owned. By using this program, the transportation departments (both state and federal) hopes that small businesses will increase their participation in providing their products and services in the line of highway, airport and transit construction as well as design industries.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program is available at both federal and state level. Small businesses with a background or niche in transport are the best candidates for this program. The rewards are good since the department (state and federal) allocates a lot of money in transpiration budgets. In addition, small businesses have the option to provide their services or products to the state transportation department or to the larger federal government. Choosing either option is a great opportunity.

An aspiring business can apply to the program should follow the rules and the requirements. The first important qualification deals with the business owner. The business must be owned by any member of a minority group or woman-owned. A minority disadvantaged business should have an owner who is classified as an African American, Native American, Hispanic, Asian-Pacific, Asian-Indian Americans or any individuals that the Small Business Administration (SBA) considers as a disadvantage under the 8(a) program. In terms of certifying small business as disadvantage, businesses will have to self-certify. They will be called as small disadvantaged business (SDB). To qualify, the busin...

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...–owned or women-owned business participating can sustain itself from profit obtained from its procurement activities. Small business can participate either as a prime contractor or subcontractor depending on the contents of the contracts. In both cases, the business gain profits and experience in procurement - something that can be a big asset for the business sin the coming years.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise is one great program to bring equality to business, especially those who really need it. Aside from giving opportunities, the program benefits the government in terms of its transportation performance and satisfaction from the citizens who use transportation in a state or even in the whole country. It’s a way of giving back or paying it forward – a great business arrangement that benefits everybody and a definite win-win situation for both parties.

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