MBE, WBE, DBE, ACDBE, AND VBE Programs

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) - A Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) is a small business that is primarily owned, controlled, and managed by one or more individuals who are economically disadvantaged and who belong to a minority group. A Women Business Enterprise (WBE) is a small business that is primarily owned, controlled, and managed by one or more individuals who are economically disadvantaged and who are women.

For a business to qualify as an MBE or WBE in Rhode Island, at least 51% of the business must be owned by one or more individuals who meet the following criteria: 

The MBE/WBE owner(s) must control the day-to-day operations of the business and have decision-making authority. Further, their ownership of the business must be “real, substantial, and continuous.” See 220-RICR-80-10-1.7(A).

Economic Disadvantage: An MBE/WBE owner’s personal net worth cannot exceed $2,047,000. See 49 CFR 26.68.

Membership in a Minority Group: The State of Rhode Island defines a member of a minority as an individual who is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident, who belongs to one of the racial or ethnic groups listed below. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 37-14.1-3(e).  Note that women do not need to belong to a minority group in order to apply for WBE certification.

Category	Definitions
Black	All persons having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
Hispanic	All persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
American Indian/Alaskan Native	All persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America.
Asian American	All persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands.
Portuguese	All persons of Portuguese, Brazilian or other Portuguese culture or origin regardless of race.
Disadvantaged	Members of other groups or other individuals found to be economically and socially disadvantaged by the Small Business Administration under § 8(a) of the Small Business Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 637(a).

Eligibility

To become certified as an MBE, WBE, DBE or VBE in Rhode Island, you must submit an application to the Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (DEDI). A member of DEDI’s staff will review your application and contact you to schedule a site visit. This process generally takes up to ninety (90) days. 

Businesses outside of Rhode Island are welcome to apply for MBE or WBE certification, but the firms must be certified in their home state to qualify. 

In contrast, DBE/ACDBE (Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certification programs for minority businesses that participate in solicitations are funded in whole or in part with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation. If your firm is certified as a DBE/ACDBE in your home state, please submit a Declaration of Eligibility, an Interstate DBE/ACDBE Certification Request Form and, if operating in a licensed industry, a copy of your valid RI business license. 

Forms and Applications

Firms seeking certification as an MBE, WBE, DBE or VBE must complete the application below with the supporting documents listed on the last page of the application. Please submit your complete application and supporting documents to the Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (DEDI). You may submit your application and supporting documents by mail (DEDI, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02903) or request a secure e-mail link from mbe.compliance@doa.ri.gov for electronic transmission. Please do not email any confidential information, such as tax documents, to DEDI without using a secure e-mail link.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is a federal program administered by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). This program was designed to provide socially and economically disadvantaged owners of small businesses with a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts nationwide. 

DBE certification is valid for USDOT federally assisted programs with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). DBE certification is valid for contracts in the State of Rhode Island with the RI Department of Transportation (RIDOT), Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), and the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC). 

You may find the criteria for DBE certification here.

The Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (DEDI) is responsible for determining if a firm meets the eligibility requirements for certification as a DBE, as detailed in 49 CFR 26.

Rhode Island based firms seeking certification as a DBE and/or ACDBE under the U.S. Department of Transportation's DBE program valid for projects and contracts with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), and the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) must complete the submit the following certification documents. Do not place applications in binders or include any extraneous documents such as dividers, tabs, an index, etc., as these documents will only be discarded.

 

• A copy of your home state UCP certification letter or certificate.
• Copies of pertinent Rhode Island licenses, if operating in a licensed industry.

Electronic submissions are encouraged – please contact mbe.compliance@doa.ri.gov for a secure link. 

If mailing, please mail to: Rhode Island Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion 

Attn: MBE Compliance Office One Capitol Hill, 3rd Floor Providence, RI 02908

Out of state firms that are currently certified as a DBE and/or ACDBE by their home state UCP may seek certification as a DBE and/or ACDBE in Rhode Island. U.S. Department of Transportation DBE certification is valid for projects and contracts with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), and the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC). Pursuant to 49 CFR 26.85(b), out of state DBE firms may request interstate certification by submitting the following forms.

• A copy of your home state UCP certification letter or certificate.
• Copies of pertinent Rhode Island licenses, if operating in a licensed industry.

Electronic submissions are encouraged – please contact mbe.compliance@doa.ri.gov for a secure link. 

If mailing, please mail to: Rhode Island Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion 

Attn: MBE Compliance Office One Capitol Hill, 3rd Floor Providence, RI 02908

A Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) is a business that is primarily owned, controlled, and managed by individuals who are Veterans. 

Eligibility

A small business concern which is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged veterans or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged veterans; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by more or more such individuals.

To apply for VBE certification, businesses must be owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged veterans.

Forms and Applications

Firms seeking certification as a VBE must complete and submit the following certification documents. Please note that firms located outside of Rhode Island should seek certification by their home state certifying agency, if applicable, prior to submitting an application to Rhode Island. Please do not place applications in binders or include any extraneous documents such as dividers, tabs, an index, etc., as these documents will only be discarded.

Electronic submissions are encouraged – please contact mbe.compliance@doa.ri.gov for a secure link. 

If mailing, please mail to: Rhode Island Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion 

Attn: MBE Compliance Office One Capitol Hill, 3rd Floor Providence, RI 02908