The disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program is for small business owners that are disadvantaged and seek to compete for Ohio Department of Transportation procurement contracts.
A disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) means a for-profit small business concern —
- That is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged or, in the case of a corporation, in which 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals; and
- Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who own it.
The primary remedial goal and objective of the DBE program are to level the playing field by providing DBEs a fair opportunity to compete for federally-funded transportation contracts.
Our team will ensure your company will guide you through the process.
The Certification process can take up to 90 days from submitting a completed application.
The minority business enterprise (MBE) program is for minority business owners that are disadvantaged and seek to compete for State of Ohio procurement contracts.
An MBE-certified business must be owned and controlled by a U.S. citizen who is a resident of Ohio and a member of one or more of the following minority groups: Blacks or African Americans, American Indians, Hispanics or Latinos, and Asians. In addition, the following criteria must be met:
- The business must
- have been in business for at least one year prior to applying; and
- be at least 51 percent minority-owned; and
- The business owner must
- possess the requisite knowledge of the business and industry in which he or she is applying;
- have day-to-day control over the business, exercising final authority over all aspects of daily operations, including but not limited to, operations, financial and business management, human resources, and policy decisions;
- demonstrate capability or expertise within the classifications identified (which can be found here) for a period of one year prior to certification; and
- possess all licenses and permits required by law to perform the scope of work within the classifications requested.
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Minority groups with the MBE program:
- African American or Black
- All persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
- American Indian
- All persons who maintain culture and have origins in a federally recognized Indian tribe as listed in the current "Federal Register Notice of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services" from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- Asian
- All persons having origins in any of the original people of the Far East, including China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. India has been included in the definition of "Asian." Subsequent to that, Pakistan was included because the country came about as a division from India.
- Hispanic or Latino
- All persons of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race.
Our team will ensure your company will guide you through the process.
The Certification process can take up to 90 days from submitting a completed application.
The Encouraging Diversity, Growth, and Equity (EDGE) program are for minority business owners that are disadvantaged and seek to compete for State of Ohio procurement contracts.
An EDGE-certified business must be owned and controlled by a U.S. citizen who is a resident of Ohio. A business may qualify for EDGE certification if either (a) its owner is both socially and economically disadvantaged, or (b) the business is located in a qualified census tract and the owner is economically disadvantaged. (Economic disadvantage is based primarily on the owner’s personal net worth.) In addition, the following criteria must be met:
- The business must
- Have been in business for at least one year prior to applying; and
- Be at least 51 percent owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and
- The business owner must
- Have day-to-day control over the business, exercising final authority over all aspects of the daily operations of the business, including but not limited to operations, financial and business management, and human resources and policy decisions; and
- Possess all licenses and permits required by law to perform the scope of work within the classifications requested.
- Race or ethnic origin
- Black or African American
- All persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
- American Indian
- All persons who maintain culture and have origins in a federally recognized Indian tribe as listed in the current "Federal Register Notice of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services" from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- Asian
- All persons having origins in any of the original people of the Far East, including China, Japan and Southeast Asia. India has been included in the definition of "Asian." Subsequent to that, Pakistan was included because the country came about as a division from India.
- Hispanic or Latino
- All persons of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race.
- Female gender
- Chronic, physical or mental disability
- Business owner's long-term residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society
Our team will ensure your company will guide you through the process.
The Certification process can take up to 90 days from submitting a completed application.
The Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) program is for women-owned business owners that are disadvantaged and seek to compete for State of Ohio procurement contracts.
A WBE-certified business must be owned and controlled by a woman who is a U.S. citizen and has an established residency in the state of Ohio or a reciprocal state (if certified pursuant to section 123.154(D) of the Revised Code). In addition, the following criteria must be met:
- The business must
- have been in business for at least one year prior to applying; and
- be at least 51 percent women-owned; and
- The business owner must
- possess the requisite knowledge of the business and industry in which she is applying;
- have day-to-day control over the business, exercising final authority over all aspects of daily operations, including but not limited to, operations, financial and business management, human resources, and policy decisions; and
- possess all licenses and permits required by law to perform the scope of work within the classifications requested.
Our team will ensure your company will guide you through the process.
The Certification process can take up to 90 days from submitting a completed application.
The State of Ohio's Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) Procurement program provides preference or bonus points to certified companies that compete to contract with the state to supply the goods or services it needs, including eligible construction services.
To be eligible for certification, the applicant business must satisfy one of the following criteria:
- At least 10% of its employees are veterans or on active service.
- At least 51% of the applicant business is owned by veterans or persons on active service.
- If the applicant business is a corporation 51% of which is not owned by veterans or persons on active service, at least 51% of the board of directors are veterans or persons on active service.
- The business is certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business or a Veteran-Owned Small Business and the owner(s) of the business meets the definition of veteran as defined in Rule 123:5-1-01(II) of the Ohio Administrative Code.
The Procurement Enhancement Plan (PEP) program is for small business owners that are disadvantaged and seek to compete for City of Dayton procurement contracts.
The PEP certification is for small business owners that are socially and economically disadvantaged.
To be eligible for the certification, owners must
- Be at least 51% owned by a 'disadvantaged' member of the population.
- Presumed disadvantaged groups are women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans or, Subcontinent Asian-Pacific Americans.
Our team will guide your company through the process.
The Certification process can take up to 90 days from submitting a completed application.
Other Government Certification Lists
