Michigan DBE Program

The program summary on this page was last updated on 01/28/2021. If any of the information or links are out-of-date, please contact us.

To access the Michigan Unified Certification Program (MUCP), a prospective Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) wishing to become certified must contact one of the three certifying agencies, those being the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), or the Wayne County Human Relations Division. The application to become a certified DBE must be physically mailed or physically hand-delivered to one of those three agencies. A business wishing to qualify as a DBE must also qualify as a Small Business Concern according to US Small Busines Administration regulations. Once certified, the participation of a DBE in federally assisted programs will be counted towards the total participation goal when a good faith effort has been made to include them.

Does this local/state program offer reciprocal certifications with other local/state programs? Procedures for interstate certification have been specified, including the stipulation that a firm must be certified as a DBE in its home state before being certified as a DBE in Michigan.

Does this certification expire? An annual affidavit of no change must be submitted by a DBE in order for it to retain its certification.

Are there multiple agencies that offer this certification in the state? The Detroit Department of Transportation, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and the Wayne County Human Relations Division are all certifying members of the Michigan UCP.

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

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