Iowa DBE Program

The program summary on this page was last updated on 05/24/2018. If any of the information or links are out-of-date, please contact us.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) has, through its Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) policies, developed a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, which is administered by the Office of Employee Services (OES). The Iowa DOT offers a list of common “pitfalls”, or repeatedly seen mistakes, that serve to hamper a business’s application to be certified as a DBE. These include but are not limited to not including all requested documents, leaving unexplained blank spaces in the application, and providing unclear titles for the firm’s various officers. Certification as a DBE allows firms to be counted towards the total when a good faith effort needs to be made to reach the DBE participation goal on a Iowa DOT project.

Does this local/state program offer reciprocal certifications with other local/state programs? Iowa DOT specifies procedures under which a firm certified as a DBE in another state may have its certification recognized with the Iowa DOT. A firm must supply its certification notice from the other state as part of this procedure.

Does this certification expire? DBEs must submit an annual Affidavit of No Change to remain valid.

Are there multiple agencies that offer this certification in the state? The Iowa DOT is the sole certifying agency for DBEs in the state.

Does this program require bidders attempt to make a good-faith effort to meet participation goals? Bidders must make a good-faith effort to reach the DBE participation goal on projects that have such a goal attached.