Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Presented by Sheena Morgan Agency Director, North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency Your Unified Certification Source
Overview Definition of DBE Eligibility requirements Appendix E Certification Process Application requirements Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP)
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Governed by 49 CFR Part 26 An independent for-profit small business Owned and controlled at least 51% by one or more socially and economically (S&E) disadvantaged individuals Management and daily operations are controlled by one or more S&E individual owner(s) Meets size standards of 13 CFR Part 121.2 and other relevant regulations
Eligibility Requirements Socially Disadvantaged Part of one of the following presumptive groups Black Americans Hispanic Americans Native Americans Asian-Pacific Americans Subcontinent Asian Americans Women Other minorities found to be disadvantaged by the SBA
Economically Disadvantaged Personal Net Worth of S&E individual must be less than $750,000 Excludes personal residence value Assets in applicant firm Take half of all marital assets Must include any assets/ownership held in any other firm other than applicant firm
S&E Individual must be U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the U.S. Firm must be a small business that meets SBA size standards and does not exceed $22.41 million in gross annual receipts
Appendix E Special provisions for applicants that do not fit within the defined S & E guidelines as set in federal regulations. Evidence of Individual Social and Economic Disadvantaged are required All areas of Appendix E must be met to received DBE certification under this rule
Certification Process Initial Review Process to determine if all documents have been received per the application checklist Email sent to applicant if additional information is needed (only one request with two week deadline) Email sent to applicant if application is complete Initial review normally conducted within 30 days of receipt of application (exceptions during high volume periods)
Pending Process Once application is complete, applicant is pending a final review. 60-90 day processing time begins once application is deemed complete.
Final Review Process Certification Specialist reviews application in detail Applicant may receive request for additional information or clarification Client references (if provided) will be contacted Site visit will be scheduled and conducted prior to DBE certification
Determination and Recommendation Certification Firm is issued Certification Letter and Certificate with certification number and renewal date Certification is renewed annually Issues of Concern / Denial Letter identifying areas of application which do not meet eligibility criteria is sent to applicant 15 day reply period given to applicant If areas are not overturned based on response firm is finally denied for 12 month period If applicant does not respond within 15 days firm is finally denied for 12 month period All appeals can be directly sent to USDOT Office of Civil Rights
Renewal Process Certifications renew at end of month in which granted First renewal notification sent 60 days prior to renewal date Second renewal notification sent 30 days prior to renewal date (if information has not been received) Intent to Decertify notification sent giving applicant 15 days to respond Decertification notification sent applicant removed for 6 month period Your "One-Stop" Regional Certification Agency
Application Requirements Checklist included in application Important documents to look at closely: Resume for all owners and officers of your firm Personal Net Worth Statement Personal taxes for past 3 years for each owner claiming DBE status Firms taxes for past 3 years (all pages/schedules) Proof of financial contribution Bank signature cards Schedule of Salaries
Corporation documents LLC documents Trucking Company Copy of insurance agreements for each truck owned or operated Titles of trucks (all) List of U.S. DOT numbers for each truck Regular Dealer or Wholesaler List of product lines carried List of distribution equipment
Franchises Complete copy of franchise agreement Proof of down payment for franchise Partnership Partnership agreement Limited Partnerships All corporate / LLC documents for general partner Limited Partnership Agreement Mergers Copy of Merger Agreement Copy of Articles of Merger
Texas Unified Certification Program TUCP is a one-stop certification process for the Texas DBE Program, established in October 2002. Six Agencies perform certification process within the state of Texas City of Austin City of Houston Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency Texas Department of Transportation
Benefits of TUCP Program Registers your business in the State of Texas and lists it in the DBE Directory Federal DBE Program Certificate issues annually Provides the opportunity to bid statewide as a certified DBE firm for all DOT transportation modes, including Aviation, Highways and Public Transportation
Hierarchy of Certifications Federal Certifications SBA (Small Business Administration) (all other federal agencies) www.sba.gov DBE (Federal Transportation agencies) http://www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/asp/dbe.asp#file State Certifications HUB (Historically Underutilized Businesses) http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/procureme nt/prog/hub/ Local Certifications M/WBE Certifications provided by each individual city Certifications are not reciprocal Council Certifications DFW Minority Supplier Development Council certify minority owned business only http://msdc.adaptone.com/dfwmsdc/ Women s Business Enterprise Southwest certify women business only http://www.wbcsouthwest.org/wbe_cer tification.aspx
NCTRCA Provides DBE certification to firms headquartered in the following North Texas counties Collin Dallas Denton Ellis Erath Hood Jack Johnson Kaufman Navarro Palo Pinto Parker Rockwall Somervell Tarrant Wise
NCTRCA Contact Information 624 Six Flags Drive, Suite 100 Arlington TX 76011 817-640-0606 phone 817-640-6315 fax www.nctrca.org Your Unified Certification Source