General

The Civil Rights Division (CIV) is responsible for the oversight of the Department’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) programs.

This part seeks to achieve several objectives:

To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts in the Department’s highway, transit, and airport financial assistance programs

To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted contracts

To ensure that the Department’s DBE program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law

To ensure that only firms that fully meet this part’s eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs

To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts

To promote the use of DBEs in all types of federally-assisted contracts and procurement activities conducted by recipients

To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the DBE program and

To provide appropriate flexibility to recipients of Federal financial assistance in establishing and providing opportunities for DBEs.

Contact CIV at (512) 416-4700 for more information regarding these programs.

Section 1: Program Overview