DBE Certification

PLEASE NOTE: before you proceed, please ensure that the applicant firm is registered as a SBC in AZ UTRACS. What is the difference between registering as a SBC and getting DBE certified? To do business with the ADOT you must register your firm in the AZ UTRACS portal. This will ensure prompt payment of invoice and opportunity to put your firm's goods and services in the database.
PLEASE NOTE: Registering as a SBC DOES NOT certify the applicant firm. If you are NOT SBC Registered, your firm will not show as registered on bidders lists. Also, you must renew your registration every 3 years in order to stay compliant. All firms interested in performing work on federally funded transportation projects in Arizona must create an AZ UTRACS registration. Small Businesses can answer a few additional questions and become registered as a Small Business Concern (SBC) in the same registration process.
Minority and women-owned firms who meet the requirements in 49 CFR Part 26 may apply for and update their DBE Certification. ADOT's Unified Certification Program (UCP) ensures that firms certified by one certifying agency are DBE certified for all work performed on transportation projects in Arizona.

The Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) Program is designed to aid socially and economically disadvantaged businesses to compete for federally-funded transportation contracts on a level playing field. Disadvantaged Businesses benefit from DBE goals set on contracts which require Prime contractors to award a specified percentage of the total cost of a contract to DBEs.

Minority and Women owned businesses who meet the DBE Eligibility Requirements in 49 CFR Part 26 may apply for DBE Certification. DBE Certification applications are processed by the Arizona Unified Certification Program (UCP) which consists of ADOT, the City of Phoenix, and the City of Tucson. DBE applicants must submit their DBE certification and/or any required renewals to the proper certifying entity which is based on the firm’s primary location/address. Applications submitted to the incorrect certifying entity will not be processed. Firms will have to reapply to the correct certifying entity as indicated below to have their application reviewed and processed.

To apply for DBE certification, users must first gain access to the appropriate DBE system by selecting from the links on the right. To ensure your firm doesn’t have an existing account, you may begin by doing an Account Look up based on your firm’s EIN. This search will show you any existing firm information, as well as any existing user accounts for your firm.

If you have an existing account, you may log in to the appropriate DBE System and begin or continue your Certification application. If you encounter issues, you may use the resource links below the Log in area to get help. Firms applying to ADOT that have questions about completing the DBE application should contact the ADOT Certification Manager by phone at 602.712.7761.

Interstate DBE Certifications

To apply for Interstate DBE Certification, the firm seeking certification must already be DBE certified in their home state. If you are not certified in your home state, your interstate certification application will be returned.

All Interstate DBE Certification applications, except for ACDBE’s, are handled and processed by ADOT and must be submitted through the ADOT DBE system.