The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE) is a legislatively mandated USDOT program that applies to Federal-aid highway dollars expended on federally-assisted contracts issued by USDOT recipients such as State Transportation Agencies. The U.S. Congress established the DBE program in 1982 to:
- Ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts; (DBE Program);
- Help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts, (DBE Program); and
- Assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside of the DBE program (DBE Supportive Services).