Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE)
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program helps level the playing field for women, Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian-owned businesses, ensuring that they have the opportunity to compete for federally funded contracts.
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The Metropolitan Council receives funding for projects and procurements from several sources, including federal funding from the United States Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both the U.S. DOT and the EPA require their fund recipients to have a DBE.
The DBE program is a project for increasing the participation of women- and minority-owned businesses in the award of federally assisted contracts. See current contracting opportunities.
The Met Council has established goals for contracts for fiscal years 2024-2026:
- 13.4% overall DBE for transit contracts
- 11.9% overall DBE for environmental service contracts
Full technical reports available upon request
Applying for DBE certification
The Minnesota Unified Certification Program consists of a group of state and local agencies who work together to certify firms as DBE’s. The current certifying agencies are City of Minneapolis, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Department of Transportation. The MNUCP acts as a one-stop-shop for businesses that qualify as a DBE or wish to submit an application for DBE status.
Directory of DBE-certified firms
The DBE directory lists firms certified by the MNUCP as DBE Businesses, updated biweekly. Businesses in this directory can be based in any state, but are certified to work in Minnesota. Find detailed information for each firm by searching the MNUCP DBE Directory.
DBE participation contract goals for federally funded projects
Project contracts will include DBE participation goals if they meet the following three requirements:
- The project is federally funded.
- There are opportunities for subcontractors.
- The contract value is more than $50,000.
Staff in our Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity set contract-specific goals for DBE participation on projects meeting the requirements listed above. Bidders/proposers for projects with an assigned DBE goal must either meet the DBE goal percentage or submit good faith efforts if they are not successful at meeting the assigned goal. The Met Council will not entertain requests to waive the requirements to meet the goal or submit good faith efforts. Bidders/proposers can review additional guidance on DBE Good Faith Efforts (PDF).