The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
The VTrans Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program encourages and supports participation of businesses owned and controlled by women and people of color in a wide variety of government contracts. Certified businesses are included in our Directory which is referenced in all VTrans bid processes as well as those of other state agencies. We offer the only federally-mandated certification program in the State of Vermont.
VTrans offers support for certified firms to get to know personnel at our Agency, our prime contractors and consultants, and we help you find contracting opportunities specifically tailored to your work. We offer informal virtual sessions to answer your questions and help you learn about our bidding and prequalification process, and we send weekly emails with contracting, training, and networking opportunities.
Through our Business Development Program, we provide technical assistance and training on business development and government contracting topics. We assist certified businesses to identify state government contracting opportunities that are tailored to their businesses. In addition, we provide individual coaching and organize networking events.
We hope you will join our program and to encourage your participation, we provide assistance with your application. Please reach out to our Supportive Services Consultant, Diane Meyerhoff, 802.865.1794 for assistance. Once certified, you need only submit annual tax documents and complete the annual update affidavit to remain in the program.
A Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) is a business which:
- Is at least 51 percent owned by one or more socially and/or economically disadvantaged individuals, and
- Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the socially and/or economically disadvantaged individuals who own it.
Visit the Certification Page for more detail.