Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

Hawaii Department of Transportation
869 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

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The DBE program was established to ensure that firms owned by minorities, women and other socially and economically disadvantaged persons have an equal opportunity to participate in U.S. DOT-assisted projects.  The goal of the program is to level the playing field on which DBEs may compete for contracts and subcontracts in the transportation industry.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) is a for-profit small business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more U. S. citizens or permanent residents who are both socially and economically disadvantaged.

Immediate Changes Made to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Regulations – Central Mandates and DBE Impact

The United States Department of Transportation has made changes to the DBE/ACDBE Program through the DBE Interim Final Rule that was released on October 1, 2025, and published in the Federal Register Friday, October 3, 2025.

Please click links to access additional resources:

All firms previously certified using race- or sex-based presumptions of social and economic disadvantage must be reevaluated by the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT).

  • Central Mandates
    • Certification Review: All DBE firms previously certified based on presumed disadvantage (race or sex) must be reevaluated under the new Interim Final Rule standards.
    • Personal Narrative and Net Worth Statement: Affected firms must submit a personal narrative detailing their social and economic disadvantage based on their own experiences and circumstances without reliance in whole or in part on race or sex, along with an updated personal net worth statement.
      • Personal Narrative guidelines will be provided/made available at a later date.
    • Suspension of Future DBE Goals: HDOT and subrecipients will not set new DBE goals for contracts effective on or after October 3, 2025, until the reevaluation process is finished.
    • Existing Projects, Currently Advertised Projects, and Future Solicitation Projects: Guidance has been provided regarding solicitations and amendments have been made, as needed.
  • DBE Impact
    • Certification Status: The certifications of affected firms are inactive during the review period.
    • Notification and Requirements: Affected firms will be directly notified with instructions on how to regain certification.  They must submit the required personal narrative and net worth statement.  HDOT will provide guidance and technical assistance.
    • Decertification Process: Firms that do not comply or fail to meet the new standards will be decertified without a hearing opportunity.
    • Unaffected Areas: This rule change does not impact prevailing wage, certified payroll, or prompt payment requirements.

Reminders and Updates Regarding Hawaii Department of Transportation DBE Reevaluation Process

  • April 17, 2026 – Deadline to submit Declaration of Intent.  30-day deactivation response period begins for non-respondents.  Firms that do not submit a Declaration of Intent by April 17, 2026 will be temporarily deactivated from the DBE/ACDBE program.  Deactivation initiates a 30-day response period (April 17, 2026 to May 16, 2026) during which firms may still submit a complete Declaration of Intent and proceed with the reevaluation process.
  • May 17, 2026 – Deactivation response period ends.  Decertification process initiated for all non-responsive firms.
  • May 31, 2026 – Submission of reevaluation applications.  Firms are encouraged to upload their Personal Narrative and Personal Net Worth Statement as soon as possible to: https://hdot.gob2g.com/

All firms whose Jurisdiction of Original Certification (JOC) is Hawaii and have completed their reevaluation application will receive an official determination of reevaluation after the May 31st deadline, with the exception of some Hawaii-based firms.

Firms whose JOC is Hawaii and who are seeking DBE certification in other states through the Interstate Application process may receive an expedited review/determination of their re-evaluation application.  This is to help mitigate economic harm to local firms who are able to participate in jurisdictions which have restarted DBE goal setting on projects.

If you have any questions regarding the DBE Reevaluation process please contact Kawika Pegram at (808) 831-7915 or at [email protected] or Daniel Williams at (808) 831-7914 or at [email protected]

Final Availability and Disparity Study (As of 3/25/2020):

  • March 24, 2020 HDOT Availability and Disparity Study Final Executive Summary.
  • March 24, 2020 HDOT Availability and Disparity Study Final Report.

DBE BROCHURE

FHWA DBE PROGRAM PLAN (2024)

FAA DBE PROGRAM PLAN (2024)

FAA ACDBE PROGRAM PLAN (2024)

FTA DBE PROGRAM PLAN (2025)

UNIFIED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

BIDDER REGISTRATION LIST

DBE GOALS

  • View Proposed FHWA DBE Goal and Methodology for FFY 2026-28 HERE
  • View Proposed FAA DBE Goal and Methodology for FFY 2026-28 for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Kahului Airport HERE
  • View Approved FHWA DBE Goal and Methodology for FFY 2023-25 HERE
  • View Letter HERE and Proposed FTA DBE Goal and Methodology for FFY 2024-26 HERE

UPCOMING TRAINING/WORKSHOPS

SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

VENDOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTORY

FIRMS SEEKING NEW DBE CERTIFICATION APPLICATION

FORMS FOR CURRENTLY CERTIFIED DBE/ACDBE 

FORMS FOR CONTRACTORS

DBE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

OTHER RESOURCES

VIEW BIDDING OPPORTUNITIES via the Hawaii Awards & Notices Data System (HANDS)

HDOT Highways Project Status Map

  • View all state highways program data including current & future projects scheduled to begin in the next two years. Available data also includes Average Annual Daily Traffic counts and pavement conditions for state routes.
    • Click on the “Current Construction” tab to view HDOT construction projects underway.
    • Click on the “Future Projects” tab to view HDOT construction projects scheduled to begin in the next two years.