IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has revised its Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) rules. The revised rules became effective on October 3rd, 2025, the day that the new rules were published in the Federal Register. You can find the newest revisions on the Federal Register website.
Under the DBE program, MaineDOT, as a recipient of USDOT funding, has been required to set goals for participation in federally-funded projects by small businesses owned and controlled by "socially and economically disadvantaged" individuals. Until the USDOT’s October 3rd rule change, women and certain racial and ethnic groups were presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged under USDOT’s DBE rules.
USDOT’s October 3rd rule made some significant changes to the DBE program, including eliminating this presumption and creating new criteria for showing social and economic disadvantage based on individual factors unrelated to race, ethnicity, or sex. The new rule also requires MaineDOT to re-evaluate all current DBEs under the new criteria and to recertify only those that meet the new standards. Businesses that cannot show that they meet the new standards will be decertified as DBEs, or if they are a new applicant, will not be certified as a DBE.
While USDOT’s new rule leaves a number of unanswered questions, we wanted to provide you with information that is available to us at this point since contracts for your work on MaineDOT projects include DBE program requirements. We’ve done that in the form of the attached:
DBE Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
Contractor and Consultant Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
We will continue to provide you with information as it becomes available to us.
MaineDOT is committed to engaging small disadvantaged business enterprises as defined herein in all contracts to the maximum feasible extent, and will continue working to ensure the maximum feasible opportunity for these businesses to participate in contracts financed in whole or in part with federal funds.
As a recipient of federal USDOT funding, MaineDOT is required to develop and administer the DBE Program. MaineDOT administers the DBE Program and certifies all DBEs in Maine in compliance with federal regulations under 49 CFR Part 26. This program is intended to foster equal opportunity in USDOT-assisted contracts; improve the flexibility and efficiency of the DBE Program; and reduce burdens on small businesses.
DBE Certification does not mean the contractor has the ability to work in the state of Maine - it is up to the contractor to verify eligibility.
- General Information/DBE Documents
Unified Certification Program (UCP) Annual MAP 21 Report
Each year, Maine DOT, as Maine’s Unified Certification Program (UCP), must submit to the US DOT Departmental Office of Civil Rights, information on its participating DBE firms. MaineDOT goes through its statewide unified DBE directory and counts the number of firms controlled, respectively, by: (1) White women, (2) minority or other men, and (3) minority women, and then convert the numbers to percentages, showing the calculations. The information reported includes the location of the firms in the State; per USDOT request, it does not include Airport Concessionaire DBEs (ACDBEs) in the numbers. The location of the DBE firm is annotated as the total firms in-state and total firms out–of-state. Please review our most recent MAP-21 DBE data below.
- Unified Certification Program (UCP) Annual MAP 21 Report (XLS)
- MaineDOT DBE Program (PDF)
- Contractor and Consultant CUF and Utilization Forms
- Contractor Bidder's List Form (PDF)
- Bidder's List Form instructions (PDF)
- Commercially Useful Function Form (Word) (PDF)
- Certification of final DBE payment (PDF)
- Instruction for Consultant Bidder's List form (PDF)
- Consultant Bidder's List form (PDF)
- Certification of final DBE payment (PDF)
- Certification of Final Subconsultant Payment (Word) (PDF)
- Subrecipient DBE Instructions and Reporting Forms
- Instructions
- Forms
- DBE Application Information
The following is a list of application forms and Instructions for applying as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Please forward completed applications to the following address:
Maine Department of Transportation
Attn: Mary Bryant
Civil Rights Office
#16 State House Station
24 Child Street
Augusta, ME 04333-0016Telephone: (207) 624-3056
Email Mary BryantMaineDOT In-State DBE Documents
- Declaration of Eligibility (PDF)- Required
- Personal net worth statement (PDF) - Required
- Supporting Documents checklist (PDF)
MaineDOT Out-Of-State DBE Documents
The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will require any out-of-state firm certified in the federal DBE program in its home state to submit the following for consideration for certification in Maine:
- Declaration of elegibility (PDF)
- Cover letter with its application that specifies that the DBE is applying for interstate certification, identifies all UCPs in which the DBE is certified (including the UCP that originally certified it).
- An electronic image of the UCP directory of the original UCP that shows the DBE certification.
Interstate DBE certifications are completed within 10 days of receipt of all information required by Section 26.85(d).
- Annual Review Documents
List of Required Documents
- Declaration of Eligibility (PDF)
- Proof of gross receipts for your company’s most recently completed fiscal year, calculated on a cash basis regardless of the overall accounting method. The following documents may generally be considered “safe harbors,” provided that they include all reportable receipts, properly calculated, for the full reporting period: audited financial statements, a CPA’s signed attestation of correctness and completeness, or all income-related portions of one or more (when there are affiliates) signed Federal income tax returns as filed
- A cover letter that specifies that the DBE is submitting the required annual review documentation and identifies all UCPs in which the DBE is certified.
- An electronic image of the UCP directory of the original UCP that shows the DBE certification.
- DBE Goals and Methodologies
- DBE Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the DBE Program?
A: The agency promotes a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, as an affirmative means to fulfill the philosophy that all businesses, regardless of ownership are allowed equal freedom and opportunity to compete for all contracts. All small business owners providing transportation construction or related services are encouraged to apply for certification.
Q: How do I get my firm certified?
A: Contact Mary Bryant at 207-624-3056 or mary.bryant@maine.gov
Q: How will this help my firm?
A: Your firm will be listed in the online Maine DBE Directory that is constantly updated.
Q: What is a socially or economically disadvantaged individual?
A: A socially or economically disadvantaged individual is a citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States who is socially and economically disadvantaged.
Q: My Maine firm is certified in Maine; can I get certified in other states as well?
A: A DBE certification is only valid in the state in which the certification was issued. However, to obtain certification in another state, you must first be certified in your home state. Once you have obtained certification in your home state, you should contact the DBE Administrator from the state in which you want to obtain certification, and they will inform you of the required documents.
Q: My firm is not in Maine but has been certified by my home state. How do I become certified in Maine?
For out-of-state firms, Maine requires the following information:
- Interstate Certification Request Form;
- An electronic image of the UCP directory of the original UCP that shows the DBE certification;
- A currently signed Declaration of Eligibility; and
- A cover letter that specifies that the DBE is applying for interstate certification and identifies all UCPs in which the DBE is certified.
This information should be sent to the Maine Department of Transportation, Civil Rights Office, Attn: Mary Bryant, State House Station 16, Augusta, ME 04333, or via email at mary.bryant@maine.gov.
Certification in Maine will be determined by the MaineDOT.
Q: How does MaineDOT establish goals for DBE participation?
A: The 2025-2027 DBE participation goal for Federal Highway is 1.43%, the 2026-2028 DBE participation goal for Federal Transit projects is 1.20%, and the Federal Aviation projects is .94%
Q: Once certified, can a firm be assured of getting contracts and subcontracts?
A: No. Certification does not guarantee work to a DBE; however, it does enhance a DBE's exposure to prime contractors, government agencies, and the business community. To be successful, a firm must diligently seek out contracts and implement a strategic marketing plan.
Q: Where can I find information on upcoming MaineDOT contracting opportunities?