Disadvantaged- and Airport- Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE/ACDBE) certifications are used for federally-funded transportation, aviation and highway projects. To include: Austin-Bergstrom International-Airport, Texas Department of Transportation, and Capital Metro to name a few. 

Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) is used for City of Austin funded projects and contracts in construction, professional services, nonprofessional services and commodities.

For more information, call our Certification division at 512.974.7645 or email SMBRcertification@austintexas.gov

The Certification review process can take up to 60 days once all information has been uploaded into the portal.

For more information, email SMBRcertification@austintexas.gov

Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) certification is valid for four calendar years from the date of initial certification. 

Disadvantaged and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE/ACDBE) certifications have no expiration date, maintaining the certification(s) is contingent on an annual review submission along with a few required documents. 

Certification as an MBE/WBE provides greater exposure for work opportunities on City of Austin projects.

  • Certified firms are listed on SMBR's Certified Firms Directory
  • SMBR provides bidders/proposers an "Availability List" of certified firms for primes to solicit
  • Gives firms an opportunity to bid on City of Austin projects as part of a team

To learn more about MBE/WBE Certification call (512) 974-7645 or email smbrcertification@austintexas.gov

After certification, your business name is shown on The City of Austin's Small & Minority Business Resources' (SMBR) depatment's website vendor database as a certified Minority- or Woman-Owned Business Enterprise. An availability list is generated from the database on specific services needed on a City of Austin project. If your company's services match a particular solicitation, you will receive a notice either by fax, email, or mail to submit a bid.

A Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) is a business that has it's day-to-day operations at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more minority persons.

A minority is generally defined as an individual who is African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, Native American.  A woman is defined as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE).

There are no fees payable to the City of Austin for certification.

The City of Austin requests the minimum documentation needed to determine if an owner is socially and/or economically disadvantaged.

This information includes documents that will demonstrate ownership, management and control.

We will also need documentation that demonstrates the owner and/or owners' expertise and the Personal Net Worth (PNW).

For more information, email smbrcertification@austintexas.gov or call 512.974.7645.

Yes, your firm will be placed on Availability List whenever the scopes of work that you are certified under appear on a contract.  To ensure that Prime Contractors and Prime Consultants are able to contact you, keep your email address and contact information current on Vendor Connection so that your company will not miss any opportunities to do business with the City or with a prime..

Keep in mind that Certification does not guarantee a contract with the City of Austin.

 

The City of Austin only recognizes Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certification from the Small & Minority Business Resources (SMBR) Department for our locally funded projects.