INTERSTATE CERTIFICATION    

Interstate Certification 49 C.F.R. §26.85

What is the purpose of the interstate certification rule?

 The rule furthers several fundamental objectives of the DBE program—(1) facilitating the ability of DBE firms to compete for DOT-assisted contracting, (2) reducing administrative burdens and costs on the small businesses that seek to pursue contracting opportunities in other states, and

In response to longstanding concerns of DBEs, the interstate certification provision is designed to make the certification process easier on recipients and certified DBEs. The DBE program is a national program, and administrative obstacles to certification undermine important program objectives.

The Department strongly reiterates that the ultimate purpose of the interstate certification rule is to facilitate certification of currently certified firms in other jurisdictions. Accordingly, interstate certification is not automatic reciprocity in the sense that each state must honor the other states’ certification decisions without review.

Rather, the rule creates a rebuttable presumption such that a firm certified in its home state (State A) is eligible to be certified in other states in which it applies.

Thus, the subsequent certifier’s review is limited to specifically enumerated items in the rule. The rule creates a bright-line distinction between applications for interstate certification and applications for initial certification.

For further discussion of the Department’s general views on the interstate certification provisions, please see the preamble to the final rule establishing this regulation: Office of the Secretary, “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: Program Improvements,”cfr 011-1531

Each State Has Different Requirements Below is the Complete Listing

-----

Listing of States with reciprocal agreement

 State of Alabama  All Firm Must have SCC registration and has been in business more than one year

      Arizona                       Firms from Phoenix and Tucson are not eligible to participate

      Colorado                     Voluntary Business-to-Business Database for MBEs/WBEs

      Georgia                       Vendor registry with self-identification

      Illinois                        Business Enterprise Program (BEP) for “minor” , women,

      Kansas                        Online MBE/WBE Registry

      Michigan                    Vendor registry with self-identification

      Nebraska                     Vendor registry with self-identification

      New   Hampshire        Online SBE Registry

     New   Jersey   Voluntary small business database; Small Business Set

    Utah

      Alaska

      Hawaii

      Idaho

      Kentucky

      Maine

      Montana

      Nevada

      North Dakota

      South Dakota

States with Partial In-State Preference Programs or Registries

     Wisconsin                   Must have home-state certification and “no abundance

       Delaware                     Must have home-state certification

      Indiana                        Must have home-state certification

      Virginia                    Size limits based on field of operation

     Massachusetts            Must have home-state certification

 Missouri                     Must have home-state certification and MO registration and

       New   York                 Must have home-state certification and NY registration and license

 North   Carolina         Must have home-state certification

      Oklahoma                   Must have OK registration and license

   Pennsylvania              Must have home-state certification

      South   Carolina         Must have SC registration and license

   Tennessee                   Must have home-state certification

    Vermont                     Must have Vermont business license

    Washington                Must have WA registration and license

    West Virginia             no conditions

|S|B|G|A| offers Fully Expedited Interstate Certification processing for our processed UCP's

  $658 

for each new State

 Externally Applied  UCP's Interstate for Certified MBE/DBE/SBE

  $1285 

for each State

  For FREE consultation please call: (202) 417-SBGA