COVID-19 Updates from the Civil Rights Division

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued guidance to address the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on the DBE program and certification related issues.

For more information, please review guidance from USDOT, effective through Dec. 31, 2020.

In response to the guidance, TxDOT is implementing the following temporary procedures:

• TxDOT will allow the filing of unsworn declarations executed under penalty of perjury rather than sworn affidavits. Additionally, providing false information on a governmental record is a violation of Texas Penal Code §37.10.
• TxDOT will grant extensions to any certified DBE firm whose Annual Update Affidavit is due or past due.
• TxDOT will extend the timeframe to notify TxDOT of material changes, including, but not limited to, business size, ownership, control, change of address, etc., from 30 days to 60 days.

These temporary procedures only apply to firms certified by TxDOT and firms applying for certification with TxDOT. If your firm is certified by one of the other certifying partners in the Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP), please contact the respective agency, listed below, for information related to your certification.

• City of Houston, Office of Business Opportunity
• City of Austin, Small and Minority Business Resources Department
• Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority
• North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency
• South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency

Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program

To maintain consistency between the DBE and SBE certification programs, TxDOT will accept unsworn declarations in lieu of notarized statements as part of the SBE certification application and renewal processes.

Submitting Required Information Related to Certification 

All currently certified firms and firms applying for certification are strongly encouraged to submit required information and supporting documentation electronically through the Diversity Management System. Please contact the Civil Rights Division with any questions or concerns.

Contact Us

To speak to someone directly, please call the main division phone line at 512-416-4700. Staff can be reached by email or phone during normal business hours, Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.