The Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) certifies eligible firms under the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disafvantged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programs. OESBD establishes DBE program and project-specific goal for Broward County's aviation and transit projects. We also establish ACDBE, program and project-speciftic goals for agreements at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), which are subject to the federal ACDBE Program.
NEW! Interim Final Rule (IFR) RE: Federal DBE and ACDBE Programs (October 2025)
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR), effective October 3, 2025, revising certain requirements under the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) programs. These changes are significant and will impact certification, reporting, and compliance processes nationwide.
We want to take this opportunity to clarify that Broward County is one of nine members of the Florida Unified Certification Program (UCP). The Florida UCP is a cooperative effort among nine certifying agencies responsible for implementing the federal DBE and ACDBE programs consistently across the State of Florida. Because the IFR introduces new federal requirements, Broward County must coordinate closely with the other Florida UCP members to determine a uniform approach for implementation. This coordination is essential to ensure that all certification and compliance procedures remain aligned statewide.
As these discussions take place, we ask for your patience while Broward County and the Florida UCP carefully review the new rule, assess its impacts, and develop updated procedures to comply with the federal requirements. Our goal is to minimize disruption to certified firms and applicants while maintaining compliance with USDOT’s guidance. We will provide updates as soon as new information and procedures become available. In the meantime, please continue to monitor your email and the Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development website for further communication regarding program updates and timelines.
DBE/ACDBE REEVALUATION
As of January 26, 2026, Broward County is accepting reevaluation documentation from existing DBE/ACDBE firms, for which it is the Jurisdiction of Original Certification (JOC), to determine if these firms will remain DBE/ACDBE-certified according to the terms of the IFR. The following items must be submitted to Broward County through the online certification module of its new
Business Management System (BMS):
- A Personal Narrative for each owner claiming social and economic disadvantage. In the narrative, the owner must:
a)Based on her or his own experiences and circumstances, the owner must demonstrate social and economic disadvantage that occurred within American society, and without regard to race or sex;
b)Establish the existence of disadvantage by a preponderance of the evidence based on individualized proof regarding specific instances of economic hardship, systemic barriers, and denied opportunities that impeded the owner’s progress or success in education, employment, or business, including obtaining financing on terms available to similarly situated, non-disadvantaged persons;
c)State how and to what extent the impediments caused the owner economic harm, including a full description of type and magnitude, and establish the owner is economically disadvantaged in fact relative to similarly situated, non-disadvantaged persons; and
- A Personal Net Worth statement (link to blank PNW) and any other financial information the owner considers relevant
- A copy of both the personal and business (including any affiliates) 2024 Federal Tax Return, with all schedules and forms
The requested information can be submitted via:
a. Log into portal using the “Vendor Log-In” button
i. You may use the “Account Lookup” or “Forgot Password” buttons, towards the bottom right of the screen, as needed
ii. If you do not have a vendor user account and need to request one, please click the “Contact Support” button towards the top right of the screen
- Once you log into the BMS, you’ll be taken to your Home page, which is also called the Dashboard.
a. Under “Key Actions” on the right side of the Dashboard, click “Renew/Apply for Certification”
- A Vendor Aid is available
Your failure to submit this information will result in your firm remaining ineligible for counting towards DBE/ACDBE participation. The firm will remain ineligible until successful completion of the reevaluation.
The full text of US DOT’s Interim Final Rule and FAQs can be found at the following links:
If you do not wish to participate in the reevaluation process, and wish to withdraw your DBE/ACDBE certification, please send an email to
BMSCert@broward.org and notify us accordingly.
Please submit your re-evaluation documents no later than April 1, 2026. Upon receipt and review of your required submission, our agency will notify you regarding your continued eligibility. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact our office at (954) 357-6400.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
The
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide a vehicle for increasing the participation of minority/women-owned business enterprises in state and local procurement. The DOT DBE program is implemented by recipients of DOT Federal Financial Assistance. View program guidelines: DBE Program Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 26 (49 CFR 26).
OESBD accepts applications for DBE certification through the State of Florida Unified Certification (UCP) Program, a "one-stop shop" for DBE applicants managed by the
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), as mandated in 49 CFR 26. FDOT maintains an electronic
DBE Directory of its certified firms.
Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains the Department of Transportation (DOT) Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program. The purpose of the ACDBE program is to increase opportunities for minority and women-owned small businesses to operate as concessionaires in airports around the country. The ACDBE program for airport concessions is implemented under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 23 (49 CFR 23). Florida's certified ACDBE firms are also listed in FDOT's UCP DBE Directory.
To apply to participate in the
Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, a firm must use the U.S. DOT Uniform Certification application (DBE/ACDBE). NOTE: For Question #3 on page 1 (Appendix F), please use the following address:
Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development
115 S. Andrews Ave., Room A680
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
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Average gross receipts averaged over the three previous years must not exceed $30.72* million
*Revenues averaged over the previous five years must not exceed the Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards for the primary NAICS code of the firm. For firms working on FTA or FHWA funded projects, the revenues averaged over a five year period must not exceed $30.72 million. (As of March 1, 2024)
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Gross receipts averaged over the three previous years must not exceed $56.42 million
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Personal Net Worth < $2.047 million
(excludes personal residence and ownership interest in the company)
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A business that is 51% owned, controlled and managed by socially and economically disadvantaged U.S. citizen or legal resident
Note: Applicants must demonstrate that they meet both the socially and economically disadvantaged eligibility requirement for certification as stated in the federal regulations governing the DBE Program.
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A business that is 51% owned, controlled and managed by socially and economically disadvantaged U.S. citizen or legal resident
Note: Applicants must demonstrate that they meet both the socially and economically disadvantaged eligibility requirement for certification as stated in the federal regulations governing the ACDBE Program.
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- Must be a small business as defined by the SBA
- Must be organized as a for-profit business
- Must be independent
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- Must be a small business as defined by the SBA
- Must be organized as a for-profit business
- Must be independent
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New DBE/ACDBE Application
DBE/ACDBE Annual Declaration of Eligibility
Interstate DBE / ACDBE Certifications
The Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) is one of nine (9) certifying members of Florida's Unified Certification Program (UCP). These nine certifying members review and process eligible small business certification applications under the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programs within the state of Florida. All certified DBE and ACDBE firms are listed in the
Florida UCP DBE Directory. Once certified by a certifying member of Florida's UCP, these firms can bid as a DBE/ACDBE on contracts subject to DBE/ACDBE program requirements throughout the state of Florida.
Businesses located in other states that are DBE and/or ACDBE certified by UCP members of those states, must apply for interstate certification with Florida's UCP if they wish to have their DBE and ACDBE certifications recognized in the state of Florida and to be listed in Florida's UCP DBE Directory. The list of certifying members can be accessed via the
UCP Member Contacts (state.fl.us) listing.
DBEs/ACDBEs from other states seeking to respond to a specific solicitation or to participate on a specific contract within Florida, should submit an interstate certification request to the Certifying Florida UCP member in closest physical proximity to the recipient in question. Otherwise, general requests for DBE/ACDBE interstate certification will be processed by the Florida Department of Transportation in Tallahassee, Florida. If you are uncertain of the certifying entity that you should contact, please call Broward County OESBD at 954-357-6400. We will help you to identify the right point of contact.
Firms seeking DBE/ACDBE interstate certification in relation to specific opportunities with Broward County government, which includes the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), North Perry Airport (HWO), and Broward County Transportation Department, should submit the following documents to Broward County OESBD:
- A cover letter that specifies the DBE/ACDBE is applying for Interstate Certification along with the following information:
- Whether DBE or ACDBE certification is being sought
- The applicant's Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
- A list of all UCPs that certified the firm under 49 CPR Part 23 and/or Part 26 - including the UCP that originally certified it.
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An electronic image of the UCP directory of the JOC that shows the firm listed as a DBE/ACDBE.
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A new Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) form.
The cover letter and supporting documents are to be submitted via electronic mail to
SBCERT@broward.org or a physical copy may be delivered to:
Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development
115 S. Andrews Ave, Room A-680
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Confirmation of eligibility will be provided within ten (10) days of receipt of the required documents listed above.
For additional information, you may contact Broward County OESBD at 954-357-6400.
Broward County DBE Program Plans
- The Broward County DBE Program Plans as listed below are available to the public. To request a program plan, please email your request to
SBCOMP@broward.org.
