*** New USDOT Finance and Bonding Assistance Program for DBEs
- see Public Notice at left ****
*** Fraudulent DOT Letter is being circulated - see Public Notice***
WELCOME
The California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) provides "one-stop shopping" certification services to small, minority and women businesses seeking to participate as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) on contracts funded by the United States Department of Transportation. The CUCP also provides one-stop shopping certification services for businesses seeking to participate as an Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) on airport concessions and leases.
As mandated by the United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) in the DBE Program, Final Rule 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 23 and 26, all U.S. DOT recipients of federal financial assistance must participate in a statewide UCP.
The California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) went into effect on January 1, 2002. It is a "One-Stop Shopping" certification procedure that eliminates the need for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms to obtain certifications from multiple agencies within the State.
The CUCP is charged with the responsibility of certifying firms and compiling and maintaining a single Statewide database of certified DBEs, pursuant to 49 CFR Part 26. The Database is intended to expand the use of DBE firms by maintaining complete and current information on those businesses and the products and services they can provide to all U.S. DOT grantees in California.
The CUCP has established two regional DBE certification clusters throughout the state, designated by geographical boundaries to effectively facilitate statewide DBE certification activities.
The CUCP certifying agencies are responsible for certifying DBE firms. It is not necessary to apply for DBE certification at more than one agency. If your firm meets the General Criteria for DBE certification as provided on the Application Package, please submit your completed application, along with the requested documentation, to one of the Certifying Agencies serving the county where your firm has its principal place of business.
DBE DIRECTORY
Searching for a DBE firm? The California statewide Directory of DBEs can be accessed here.
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT UDBE
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) began implementation of contract-specific goals on certain federally-assisted contracts for DBE firms determined to be "underutilized". Please note there is no separate certification process for Underutilized Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (UDBEs). Current DBE firms whose owners are members of one of the following groups are automatically determined to be an UDBE: African American, Asian-Pacific American, Native American, and Women.
When querying the DBE Directory, please note the owner's gender and ethnicity in the search results to determine UDBE recognition. There is no separate UDBE certificate.
In addition, for DBE program purposes, there is no difference between DBE certifications performed by Caltrans or any of the other certifying agencies. For contracts awarded by Caltrans, it accepts DBEs (and those meeting the UDBE definition) certified by any of the certifying agencies.