ALDOT

Immediate Changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has implemented changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Programs through an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that became effective on October 3, 2025.
As a result of these changes, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is not currently certifying DBE/ACDBE firms and has suspended DBE goal setting for future projects until the required reevaluation process is completed. All firms previously certified as DBE/ACDBE must undergo reevaluation to determine continued eligibility under the updated standards established by the IFR.

Additional Resources

Please click the links below for more information:
• DBE IFR Guidance letter (October 3, 2025)
• DBE IFR FAQ – Updated (December 1, 2025)

Central Directives

• Certification Review: All DBE/ACDBE firms previously certified based on presumed social and economic disadvantage (e.g., race or gender) must be reevaluated in accordance with the Interim Final Rule.
• Suspension of Future DBE Goals: ALDOT will not establish DBE goals for contracts let on or after October 3, 2025, until the reevaluation process has been completed.

Effects on DBE/ACDBE Firms

• Certification Status: The certifications of affected firms will be considered pending during the reevaluation period.
• Notification and Requirements: All our Alabama based firms will receive notification with instructions and requirements necessary to maintain certification.
• Decertification Process: Firms that fail to comply with reevaluation requirements or do not meet the updated eligibility standards will be decertified.