The Alaska Unified Certification Program (AUCP), which is mandated by the US Department of Transportation and administered by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) Civil Rights Office (CRO), is your "one-stop" certification process which provides you an opportunity to participate as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) on projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that are let by numerous agencies throughout the State of Alaska.
 |
 |
The main objectives of the DBE Program are:
• To ensure that our contractors comply with DBE laws and requirements.
• To ensure that DBEs can compete fairly for federally funded transportation-related projects.
• To ensure that only eligible firms participate as DBEs.
• To assist DBE firms in competing outside the DBE Program.
DBE Applicants Must Meet These Criteria
• business status, including size
• social & economic disadvantage
• ownership
• independence
• management and control
Submitting the Application
A completed application and supporting
documentation demonstrating eligibility must be
submitted to the Civil Rights Office. Certification
applications are processed in the order they are
received. It generally takes no more that 90 days
to review an application after a completed application
and all supporting documentation have been received.
Determining Eligibility
Disadvantaged owners are interviewed
in person (or by telephone if located out of state),
and an on-site inspection of the business is conducted.
After the interview, the Civil Rights Office representative
prepares a summary that is used to determine whether
the firm meets the eligibility requirements for
certification as a DBE.
If a firm is awarded certification, it becomes eligible for participation as a DBE on transportation-related contracts with federal funding. Information about the certified firm is placed in the DBE Directory for distribution.
If a firm is denied certification, it is notified about the reasons why and is provided information on its appeal rights. Denied firms must appeal directly to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Updating Certification.
Annually, on the anniversary of the
firm's certification, all DBE firms are required
to update information about ownership, management,
equipment, employees, business size, and personal
net worth.
Eligibility requirements for certification as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) are set out in Title 49, Part 26, of the CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR). The following discussion summarizes key information, but does not cover all requirements.
Business Status. The applicant firm must be an existing "for profit" business. It must also meet the federal definition of a small business based on its primary SIC/NAICS code, as described by the Small Business Administration (SBA), and must not exceed $22.41 million in annual gross receipts averaged over a three-year period. This size standard is for construction related work. Depending on the type of work the business performs, other size standards may apply.
Social and Economic Disadvantage. A disadvantaged owner must be a U.S. citizen (or resident alien) and meet the federal definition of socially and economically disadvantaged as defined in 49 CFR 26.67. Presumptive groups include Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian-Americans, Women, and other minorities designated by the SBA. Individuals who can demonstrate social and economic disadvantage on an individual basis may also qualify.
Business Ownership. Disadvantaged owners must hold at least 51% ownership in the firm and must control the day-to-day operation and management of the business.
Professional License. When a firm's primary line of work requires a professional license, the disadvantaged owner must hold the license.
Personal Net Worth. The Personal Net Worth of a disadvantaged owner cannot exceed $1.32 million.
Ownership of Resources. A DBE firm must not rely on other individuals or businesses for its employees, equipment, or other resources.
Other Business Involvement. DBE owners cannot engage in outside employment or other business interests that conflict with their management and control of the applicant firm.
• Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
• Alaska Small Business Development Center - Assistance on business issues
• NAICS Maintenance - Searches for NAICS/SIC codes and size standards
• Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) of Alaska - Assistance on Government Contracting
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• US DOT Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization Mainpage - US DOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization with links to current events, contract opportunities, and regulations.
• USDOT Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization DBE Program - Federal DBE Program with links to egulatory issues, program information, and administrative guidance.
