​ODOT will facilitate SBE participation on construction and consultant service contracts by the following means:

1. ODOT will give all firms access to the prequalification process, and will evaluate requirements (see below) to ensure they are necessary and do not unreasonably obstruct an SBE from being able to bid as a prime contractor.
2. ODOT will continue to analyze contracts to ensure that they are not unjustifiably bundled.  In determining whether a contract is unjustifiably bundled, ODOT may consider the following criteria.
• Level of risk associated with maintaining smaller-sized projects vis-à-vis a “bundled” contract.
• The ability to create stand-alone projects that are within work areas having a significant pool of ready, willing, and able SBE firms.
3. ODOT will examine the possibility of facilitating joint ventures among SBEs to bid on contracts.
4. ODOT will explore best practices to share the contracting process with SBEs.

​The SBE Certification Program will be administered by ODOT in a manner similar to the DBE Certification Program, but without the consideration of the gender and/or ethnicity of the firm’s owners. All SBE firms must be certified prior to submitting a bid.

STEP 1: Prepare/gather the supporting documents listed at right so that you will be ready when it's time to upload them with your application.

STEP 2: Fully complete and submit the SBE Certification Application. On the page that appears, enter your first name, last name, and email address. Double-check that you typed your email address correctly, then click Submit. You will see “Package created successfully!”

STEP 3: Check your email for an email from eSignLive (signers@signer-gov.esignlive.com). In that email, click "Go to Documents".

STEP 4: Read the disclosures and click the Accept button at the bottom.

STEP 5: Complete the SBE Certification Application Submission Form. You will then be taken to a page where you will upload your personal net worth statement(s) and other supporting documents. There are 24 upload slots. You can attach all of your supporting documents in one PDF or as separate PDFs (in whatever way is easiest for you), but each PDF must be no larger than 16 mb. If there isn’t enough space to attach all of your supporting documents, please submit the remaining documents using the SBE Certification Application Additional Supporting Documents form.

STEP 6: After you upload your documents and click Done, you will receive an email from eSignLive (signers@signer-gov.esignlive.com) saying "Signing is completed".

STEP 7: Be sure to save a copy of everything you submitted for your files.

After you submit your application and supporting documents, ODOT will be in contact with you regarding next steps.

• ​Signed Federal business income tax returns for the past three years (copies of all schedules and forms referenced by the tax returns must be included) for the applicant firm and its affiliates and subsidiaries.
• Signed Federal individual income tax returns for the past three years (copies of all schedules and forms referenced by the tax returns must be included) for each owner that controls the firm with respect to any of the following functions:
• Policy setting for firm direction/scope of operations
• Bidding and estimating
• Major purchasing decisions
• Marketing and sales
• Supervising field operations
• Attending bid openings and lettings
• Performing office management (billing, accounts receivable/payable, etc.)
• Hiring and firing management staff
• Hiring and firing field staff or crew
• Designating profit spending or investment
• Obligating firm by contract/credit
• Purchasing equipment
• Signing business checks
• Notarized Personal Net Worth Statement (along with copies of bank statement(s)) for each owner for whom you are submitting individual income tax returns. (Note: This specific form must be used. This is the same form as is used for DBE/ACDBE certification, which is why the form's title includes DBE and ACDBE. Although the form does not specifically mention SBE certification, the personal net worth information required for SBE certification is the same as for DBE/ACDBE certification.)
• Resumes for the owners of the firm and for the firm’s key personnel.
• Three largest contracts or subcontracts completed by firm, plus three largest contracts or subcontracts in progress.
• List of equipment, including but not limited to any items that are self-propelled but excluding basic office equipment and basic hand tools. (This is only a requirement for construction firms.)