Becoming a certified owner-operator will provides your tools and opportunities that your competitors will not have. If you have ever wondered how you could qualify to participate in certain City, State and sometimes Federal contracts, become a certified small business owner will definitely assist you when UTL Dispatching runs across an opportunity that could become a dedicated route or long-term project for the Government. If you're interested in learning more click the link below.

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To be clear, no certification will "qualify you for a contract."  The certification merely provides priority status when competing against competitors that Do Not have any certifications. In an effort to provide more opportunities to small businesses (according to SBA standards a small business must not have annual gross receipts over $23.98 million) Prime contractors such as Skanka, LAX, Dragados, Metro, etc. often have DBE/ SBE/MBE/WBE inclusivity requirements in their RFP bids.

 

Below will explain a little more as to what you will need to be sure your firm meets as it relates to what the certifying entities will be looking for.

 

 

The DBE and SBE eligibility requirements are virtually the same with one notable exception. The SBE program is race, ethnic and gender-neutral and the DBE program is not.

The following five requirements must be proved by all applicants:

 

1. Personal Net Worth: Personal Net Worth (PNW) of less than $1,320,000. Items excluded from a person's net worth calculation include an individual's ownership interest in the applicant firm and his or her equity in their primary residence.

2. Business Size Standard: A firm (including affiliates) must be a small business as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA). It must not have annual gross receipts over $23.98 million in the previous three fiscal years ($52,470,000 for airport concessions in general with some exceptions). Depending on the type of work the business performs, other size standards may apply. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is used to determine industry and additional size standards.

3. Ownership: Must be a for-profit small business concern with the applicant/owner having at least 51% interest, control management of daily business operations.

4. Independence: The business must not be affiliated to another firm in such a way as to compromise its independence and control. These include, but are not limited to, such areas as personnel, facilities, equipment, financial and/or bonding support, and other resources.

5. Management and Control: The applicant owner(s) must possess the power to direct or cause the direction to the management and policies of the firm and to make day-to-day decisions, as well as long-term decisions on matters of management, policy, and operations.

 

The following requirement must be proved by DBE applicants only:

 

1. Social and Economic Disadvantage: A disadvantaged owner must be a U.S. Citizen (or permanent resident) and meet the federal definition of socially and economically disadvantaged as defined in 49 CFR Part 26.67. Presumptive groups include women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian-Americans, or other minorities found to be disadvantaged by the regulations or any individual found to be socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis.