Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

King County Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) / Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Interim Final Rule (IFR) Notification

Effective October 3, 2025

On October 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) regarding the certification of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBE) for federal programs. The IFR is effective immediately.

The IFR eliminates the presumption that minority- and women-owned businesses are inherently socially and economically disadvantaged. All businesses currently certified as DBE or ACDBE for federal programs must now undergo reevaluation and submit a written personal narrative, with supporting documentation, demonstrating the owner’s social and economic disadvantage. New certifications will also require an individual demonstration of social and economic disadvantage.

The Washington Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE), as the certifying authority for Washington’s Unified Certification Program (UCP), is providing guidance to public agencies regarding the steps DBEs and ACDBEs must follow to recertify.

The IFR mandates changes to DBE and ACDBE program regulations and to the County’s implementation of these programs, effective October 3, 2025. Key changes include:

• Reassessment of Certification: All firms currently certified as DBE or ACDBE must undergo reassessment to determine compliance with the new standards.
• Personal Narrative Requirement: Any firm seeking DBE or ACDBE certification must submit a personal narrative that explains the owner’s social and economic disadvantage, irrespective of race or gender.
• Personal Net Worth Statement: Firms are required to provide an updated personal net worth statement as part of the recertification process.
• Suspension of DBE/ACDBE Goals: King County is suspending and pausing enforcement of DBE and ACDBE goals on its contracts and for the County’s capital program overall, effective October 3, 2025.
• All USDOT federal funding recipients, including King County, must set 0% DBE/ACDBE goals for new contracts and stop counting DBE/ACDBE participation toward existing contract goals until the certification review process is complete and new goals can be set.
• Existing King County Contracts: King County contracts that have already been awarded remain valid; however, DBE and ACDBE commitments and participation under those contracts cannot be enforced during the reassessment period.

King County DBE Liaison Officer: Sandy Hanks, Sandy.Hanks@kingcounty.gov

For additional guidance, refer to the official U.S. Department of Transportation and other agency resources listed under the Related Links section.