Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

The Lafayette Regional Airport has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26 (Participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Financial Assistance Program) and CFR Part 23 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprise in Airport Concessions).

It is the policy of the Airport to ensure that DBE’s and ACDBE’s (Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprises), as defined in Part 23 and 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-assisted contracts. It is our policy:

• To ensure non-discrimination in the award and administration of DOT assisted contracts;
• To create a level playing field on which DBE’s can compete fairly for DOT assisted contracts;
• To ensure that the DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
• To ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBE’s and firms that meet 49 Part 23 eligibility standards are permitted to work as ACDBE’s;
• To help remove barriers to the participation of DBE’s in DOT assisted contracts;
• To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the DBE Program.

DBE Eligibility

• Ownership – Your business must be 51% owned by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s).
• Disadvantaged – You may be eligible if you are a member of a group of persons the DOT considers as disadvantaged. The DOT presumes certain groups are disadvantaged, including women, veterans, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian-Pacific Americans and other minorities found to be disadvantaged by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Persons who are not one of the above groups and own and control their business may also be eligible if they establish their “social” and “economic” disadvantage.
• Business Size Determination – A firm (including its affiliates) must be a small business as defined by SBA standards.
• Personal Net Worth – Only disadvantaged persons having a personal net worth of less than $1.32 million can be considered as a potential qualified DBE.
• Independence – The business must not be tied to another firm is such a way as to compromise its independence and control.
• Control – A disadvantaged owner seeking certification must possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the firm. The owner must also have an overall understanding of, and managerial and technical competence and experience directly related to, the type of business in which the firm is engaged.
• Burden of Proof Allocation – Applicants carry the initial burden of proof regarding their eligibility and must demonstrate that they meet all requirements concerning group membership or individual disadvantage, business size, ownership and control. For more information on DBE eligibility, contact the LADOTD or another LA UCP certifying agency. A list of certifying agencies can be found at: http://www.laucp.org/

Firms must be certified by the Louisiana Unified Certification Program (LA UCP) for their work to count towards DBE participation. If your firm would like to become certified, contact one of the participating LA UCP certifying agencies directly. A list of the certifying agencies by region can be found at:

http://www.laucp.org/

Please note that all firms may apply with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). Firms may also apply with the respective certifying agencies which are located within the region where the firm is located. Out of state firms may apply with any LA UCP certifying agency, however, they must first be certified within their own state. A directory of DBE firms that are LA UCP certified is located at:

http://laucp.org/UCP/UCPSearch.aspx