Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

Connecticut Unified Certification Program (CTUCP)

The CTUCP is responsible for certifying firms in Connecticut as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). If a firm is certified in its home state, it is also eligible for interstate certification in Connecticut by submitting a request for interstate certification.

The CTUCP is in receipt of a newly articulated instruction from U.S. DOT in the form of an Interim Final Rule (IFR) published on October 3, 2025 regarding the DBE Program. The IFR removes the presumption of race and gender-based disadvantage and requires a reevaluation of all existing DBE firms based on their ability to demonstrate individual disadvantage.

The IFR requires each Unified Certification Program (UCP) to reevaluate any previously certified DBE or ACDBE certified by CTDOT, to recertify any DBE or ACDBE that meets the new certification standards, and to decertify any DBE or ACDBE that does not meet the new certification standards. Firms that have Connecticut as their home-state must apply for recertification in Connecticut, firms having a home-state outside of  Connecticut must apply under Interstate Certification and must be certified by their home-state under the new IFR prior to applying for recertification in Connecticut.

Firms that were decertified as a result of the IFR will receive an email with pertinent information about the recertification process and the submittal requirements. Please do not submit any recertification documents until you receive notification from CTDOT. We will also post information on our website when DBE certification is reopened for new applications.

Interim Final Rule - Letter to Partners

Interim Final Rule FAQs

CTDOT Letter and FAQs

 

Federal Register :: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise in Airport Concessions Program Implementation Modifications

OUR NEW DBE CERTIFICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM!
Our new B2Gnow DBE Certification Management System is now live. Currently certified firms can upload their Personal Narrative and Personal Net Worth Statement through this new system. Click here to create your account or to log-in.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is committed to the effective implementation of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program as defined in Title 49, Code of Federal (CFR) Part 26 and Part 23 for Airport Concessions. This program will be executed in accordance with the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) as a condition of receiving DOT funding. 

 

DBE Program Information

For more information about the DBE Program, please contact Ms. Debra Goss at (860) 594-2169 or by e-mail at Debra.Goss@ct.gov

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DBE Certification Management System
Click to access the DBE Certification Management System.

The information within this directory is not a guarantee of the DBE's capacity and/or their ability to perform work. We do not warrant the accuracy of information provided by firms, and users' reliance upon it is at their own risk. Prime contractors always need to fact-check the claims made by firms they are considering doing business with.

 

How do I become DBE Certified?

In State – Connecticut Based Firms

We are currently not accepting new DBE applications. The website will be updated once we re-open the program.  

For questions, please contact shari.pratt@ct.gov or 860-594-2171

 

Interstate – Jurisdiction of Original Certification (JOC) located outside of Connecticut 

Firms must be re-evaluated in their JOC before being reinstated in Connecticut.  A copy of your JOC Re-Evaluation approval letter must be submitted through the B2Gnow DBE Certification Management System

For more information about Insterstate Certification, please contact:
DOT.DBECertification@ct.gov

 

2025 RE-EVALUATION DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR RECERTIFICATION

 

Dear DBE Firm,

The October 3, 2025, Interim Final Rule requires all DBE firms to submit a Personal Narrative and Personal Net Worth Statement.  This information will be used to determine if your firm meets the new eligibility requirements for certification in the DBE program. All firms participating in the DBE program must document their social and economic disadvantage; there is no longer a presumption that certain groups are disadvantaged based on their race, ethnicity or gender.  These changes also apply to Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) firms.

Effective December 19, 2025:

Firms certified as DBE firms with Connecticut as their home-state must submit a Personal Narrative and Personal Net Worth Statement with all supporting documentation through the B2Gnow DBE Certification Management System .

All firms who have a home-state outside of Connecticut, must submit a copy of their approved home-state certification through the B2Gnow DBE Certification Management System , documenting that your firm has been approved under the new regulations.

CTDOT plans to complete its reevaluation process on April 1, 2026.  Firms that have not submitted the necessary information by that time will be ineligible to participate in the DBE Program until they submit the required reevaluation documentation and are approved under the new eligibility standards. If you do not wish to seek reevaluation, please inform us so that we can remove your firm from our DBE database.

PLEASE NOTE-

The Personal Narrative (PN) must cover the following criteria:

(1) Demonstrate that the owner is socially and economically disadvantaged based on his or her own experiences and circumstances that occurred within American society, and without regard to race or sex;

(2) Submit to the certifier a personal narrative establishing 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;

(3) 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 individuals; and

(4) State how and to what extent the impediments caused the owner economic harm, including a full description of type and magnitude; and

(5) Attach to the Personal Narrative a current Personal Net Worth Statement and any other financial information the owner considers relevant.

The social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond the individual's control.

USDOT Personal Net Worth (PNW) Statement and Supporting Documentation:

  • Use the PNW Form in B2G System only.
  • The PNW statement must be current.
  • Read the instructions to make sure it is completed in its entirety.
  • The supporting documentation is required for each entry.
  • Complete statements are required i.e., complete checking and savings account statement to support the checking and savings account balance, and for all other entries.
  • All pages of each document provided are required.
  • Screenshots will not be accepted.
  • Include all relevant accounts and statements.
  • Make sure the date of the statements corresponds with the “as of date” on the PNW form and all balances match.
  • The household property is the property in your home, not your home’s value. Please include the valuation method used.
  • Triple-check to make sure your math is correct.
  • Be sure to sign and date the form.
  • Please follow the instructions provided. Failure to submit the information as required in its entirety may result in your firm being decertified.

You are invited to register for the Virtual Training Session listed below. We encourage you to attend these workshops. If you are unable to attend, a recording of these sessions will be available on the CTDOT website.

  1. A recorded training session of the Reevaluation Application Process will be available on the CTDOT website
  2. Composing a Personal Narrative – Workshop Date 1/8/26 at 10 AM EST Click here to register

Should you have any questions regarding your Reevaluation Status, please email us at DOT.dbecertification@ct.gov

 

Annual Updates

We are not accepting annual updates currently.  Check back in Spring 2026 for further information.

 

All certified firms (in state and interstate) must update on an annual basis

 

For more information about Annual Updates, please contact:
DOT.DBECertification@ct.gov

 

DBE Information

 

Supportive Services

The CTDOT Office of Opportunity and Business Development has contracted The Minority Construction Council (MCC) to provide Business Development Services to CTDOT certified DBE firms. MCC works to advocate, support, and create development opportunities for underrepresented contractors throughout the State of Connecticut. MCC will be providing a multitude of services to assist firms by providing growth strategies, increased market visibility and strategies for industry sustainability.   CTDOT hopes to better support DBEs through the challenges they face in growing their businesses. It is important to understand the needs of DBE firms, work to address them, and to be flexible to those needs as they evolve.

MCC will be hosting matchmakers, workshops, and one-to-one business development services to assist DBE firms.  The services provided by MCC will be available to DBE firms certified by CTDOT.  Firms can expect networking events, opportunity matchmakers, and workshops to learn new skills which may include:

  • Project scheduling
  • Researching contracting opportunities
  • Bidding work
  • Project financing/bonding
  • Advocacy
  • Executive coaching
  • Financial management
  • Procurement assistance
  • Marketing material support
  • Lead generation and presentation preparation
  • Construction management

The Office of Opportunity and Business Development webpage will be updated regularly to reflect upcoming events and opportunities. If you have questions about the CTDOT DBE Supportive Services program, please contact Allison Mulrooney at allison.mulrooney@ct.gov.  For information specific to services available, please contact Jennifer Little-Greer jlittle-greer@mccforct.org.

 

Upcoming Events

 

DBE Task Force Meeting

Wednesday, February 4 from 9:00-11:00am

CT Department of Transportation- 2800 Berlin Tpke Newington, CT

More information to come

 

CT Business Matchmaker

March 5, 2026 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Information and registration here: CT Business Matchmaker

 

 

For any questions regarding upcoming events please contact allison.mulrooney@ct.gov

 

 

DBE Training Modules

 

DBE Meetings and Training Opportunities