FHWA Office of Civil Rights

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services (DBE/SS) Program

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services (DBE/SS) Program is one that has been consistently operated as an adjunct to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program; statutory authorization exists for the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) implementation of the program. The primary purpose of the DBE/SS is to provide training, assistance, and services to minority, disadvantaged, and women business enterprises so as to increase their activity in the program, and to facilitate the firms' development into viable, self-sufficient organizations capable of competing for, and performing on federally assisted highway projects. Since 1982, Congress has authorized up to $10 million, annually, to accomplish these objectives.

FHWA annually apportions the DBE/SS funds to STAs for the purpose of carrying out a DBE/SS program. The FHWA approves the funding of STA programs only if they demonstrate the ability to directly assist certified DBEs’ development through identifiable, metric-based results.

Authorities:

• 23 USC 140 (c)
• 23 CFR 230 Subpart B
• 49 CFR Part 26, Appendix C