Utilization Plan

Prime contractors are required to submit DBE Utilization Plans (UP) through DMS no later than five calendar days following the official notification that they are the apparent low bidder. If the fifth day falls on a weekend or state or federal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Prime contractors complete and submit utilization plans online via DMS.
TxDOT creates the UP record in DMS by project CSJ and assigns it to a prime contractor. Once TxDOT releases the UP, the prime contractor’s main contact in DMS will receive an e-mail notification.
The prime contractor can then enter all subcontractors or suppliers. The subcontractors and suppliers must confirm their participation. The prime contractor will sign the UP and submit it.
Submitted plans are reviewed by TxDOT CIV staff. CIV staff will either:
  1. return the plan,
  2. conditionally approve the plan, c) approve the plan, or d) deny the plan. For returned and conditionally approved plans, the system will automatically send notices to the prime contractor to update and resubmit the plan.
Instructions for submitting a UP in DMS are included in Section 2. In addition, B2Gnow has published a user manual titled Utilization Plans that shows prime contractors how to complete and submit utilization plans. The manual can be located in DMS.
A DBE prime contractor is not required to submit a UP. DBE prime contractors must report subcontractor activity for all subcontractors to include DBEs and non-DBEs in DMS after contract execution. Refer to the Prime Contractors’ DBE Guide, Chapter 9 titled DMS Subcontractors for more information on adding subcontractors to DMS.