DBE Reevaluation
ⓘ Announcement on the DBE Program
Caltrans announces the implementation of a statewide reevaluation of certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) firms in accordance with revised federal regulations issued on October 3, 2025. This action ensures continued compliance with federal law while maintaining fair and transparent access to contracting opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses.
Under the new Federal DBE regulations (IFR issued October 3, 2025), certifications must now be based on individualized demonstrations of social and economic disadvantage, with no reliance on race- or sex-based presumptions. All currently certified DBE/ACDBE firms are being reevaluated under these standards, and those that do not meet the new criteria may be decertified. During the reevaluation period, recipients may not set DBE contract goals nor count DBE participation toward goals.
Caltrans is working with the Unified Certification Program agencies to reevaluate more than 6000 DBEs as soon as practicable. DBE firms are being contacted by their certifying agency regarding additional requirements to get recertified.
Recertification Packets are due by April 16, 2026.
Note: Firms certified in another state must provide documentation from their Jurisdiction of Certification (JOC) confirming that the firm has been reevaluated and approved under the new IFR requirements. Until then, firms certified in other states will remain ineligible to participate in California.
Read the Reevaluation Letter Guide for more information.
OCR ensures non-discrimination in the execution of contracts and promotes positive external customer relations.
Contact Civil Rights
The October 3, 2025 Interim Final Rule requires all DBE firms to submit a Personal Narrative and Personal Net Worth Statement. This information will be used to determine if your firm meets the new eligibility requirements for certification in the DBE program. All firms participating in the DBE program must document their social and economic disadvantage; there is no longer a presumption that certain groups are disadvantaged based on their race, ethnicity or gender.
Effective March 2, 2026:
Firms certified as DBE firms with California as their home-state must submit a Personal Narrative and Personal Net Worth Statement with all supporting documentation with the Caltrans Certification System.
Firms that have not submitted the necessary information by that time will be ineligible to participate in the DBE Program until they submit the required reevaluation documentation and are approved under the new eligibility standards. If you do not wish to seek reevaluation, please inform us so that we can remove your firm from our DBE database.
The Personal Narrative (PN) must cover the following criteria:
- Demonstrate that the owner is socially and economically disadvantaged based on his or her own experiences and circumstances that occurred within American society, and without regard to race or sex;
- Submit to the certifier a personal narrative establishing the existence of disadvantage by a preponderance of the evidence based on individualized proof regarding specific instances of economic hardship, systemic barriers, and denied opportunities that impeded the owner’s progress or success in education, employment, or business, including obtaining financing on terms available to similarly situated, non-disadvantaged persons;
- State how and to what extent the impediments caused the owner economic harm, including a full description of type and magnitude, and establish the owner is economically disadvantaged in fact relative to similarly situated non-disadvantaged individuals; and
- State how and to what extent the impediments caused the owner economic harm, including a full description of type and magnitude; and
- Attach to the Personal Narrative a current Personal Net Worth Statement and any other financial information the owner considers relevant.
The social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond the individual's control.
- Use the PNW Form in B2G System only.
- The PNW statement must be current.
- Read the instructions to make sure it is completed in its entirety.
- The supporting documentation is required for each entry.
- Complete statements are required i.e., complete checking and savings account statement to support the checking and savings account balance, and for all other entries.
- All pages of each document provided are required.
- Screenshots will not be accepted.
- Include all relevant accounts and statements.
- Make sure the date of the statements corresponds with the “as of date” on the PNW form and all balances match.
- The household property is the property in your home, not your home’s value. Please include the valuation method used. Triple-check to make sure your math is correct.
- Be sure to sign and date the form.
- Please follow the instructions provided. Failure to submit the information as required in its entirety may result in your firm not being eligible for the DBE Program.
Should you have any questions regarding your Reevaluation Status, please email us at DBE.Reevaluation@dot.ca.gov.
Recertification Packets are due by April 16, 2026.
These guidance documents are not intended to replace sound professional judgement. It is not legal advice. These documents provide general information as part of the DBE reevaluation process.
Join our upcoming webinars to learn about recent 49 CFR Part 26 updates, including individualized determinations, the CUCP reevaluation process, required documentation, and important next steps for DBE and ACDBE firms.
- Industry Webinar | Reevaluation Overview & Next Steps
March 9, 2026 | 10 am PST
Register Now - Understanding New DBE Requirements
March 10, 2026 | 10 am PST
Register Now - Guidance for Personal Narrative
March 17, 2026 | 10 am PST
Register Now - Questions & Answers (Q&A)
April 1, April 2, April 6, and April 14, 2026 | 10 am PST
Register Now