Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Office

SEPTA is committed in our efforts to expand contracting opportunities for small, minority and woman-owned businesses (DBE Policy Statement). Our DBE Program Office provides technical assistance, training, and other resources for vendors looking to do business with us. Contact us at DBEProgram@septa.org.

In accordance with the DBE regulations codified at 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 26 (49 CFR, Part 26), SEPTA developed its triennial DBE participation methodology and goal, which have been approved by the Federal Transit Administration. The DBE goal established for Federal Fiscal Years 2018 through 2020 is 15%.

Certification is not required to do business with SEPTA. Interested vendors must register in our electronic Procurement System (ePS) to receive notification of opportunities in their respective areas of expertise. However, DBE certification is required for small, minority and woman-owned businesses seeking to participate on Federally-funded, transit-related projects as a DBE. SEPTA's DBE Program Office processes DBE certifications in accordance with 49 CFR, Part 26. Small, Minority and Woman-owned businesses can apply online for DBE certification by visiting the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program's (PA UCP) website. The website provides information about the Federal DBE Program as well as detailed instructions for applying online.

Please Note: Small businesses seeking either Minority, Woman or Disabled-owned Business Enterprise (MBE, WBE, DSBE) certification in order to participate on State, City, County or Privately-funded projects, can obtain such certifications through the following agencies:

The Enterprise Center certifies minority and disabled-owned business enterprises, regardless of business location.
Telephone: 215-895-4000
(Accepted by the City of Philadelphia's Office of Economic Opportunity.)

Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC) certifies minority-owned business enterprises located in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. For businesses located outside of this tri-state area, visit the National Minority Supplier Development Council's website.
Email: info@emsdc.org
Telephone: 215-569-1005
(Accepted by the City of Philadelphia's Office of Economic Opportunity and Pennsylvania's Department of General Services, among others.)

Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) PA-DE-Southern NJ certifies woman-owned businesses located in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. For businesses located outside of this tri-state area, visit the Women's Business Enterprise National Council's website.
Email: info@wbecouncil.org
Telephone: 877-790-9232
(Accepted by the City of Philadelphia's Office of Economic Opportunity and Pennsylvania's Department of General Services, among others.)

The New Jersey Department of Treasury certifies both minority and woman-owned business enterprises, regardless of business location.
Telephone: 866-534-7789 or 609-292-2146
(Accepted by the City of Philadelphia's Office of Economic Opportunity.)

Businesses wishing to apply for DBE certification via the paper process, must submit the following two documents together, fully completed and notarized, along with all required supporting documentation identified on page 14 of the DBE application.
DBE/ACDBE Uniform Certification Application
DBE/ACDBE Personal Net Worth Statement

Interstate Certification

Businesses located outside of Pennsylvania must first obtain DBE certification in their home state before applying for DBE certification in the PA UCP. Once home-state DBE certified, submit the following document, fully completed and notarized, along with all required documentation identified in items 1 through 4 on the first page.

PA UCP DBE/ACDBE Interstate Certification Affidavit

Additional documents for currently certified DBE firms:
PA UCP DBE/ACDBE Annual Affidavit
PA UCP DBE/ACDBE NAICS Code Modification Request

Notice from Prime Contractor seeking DBE participants

Please check this page regularly for new notices.

Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program

In accordance with 49 Code of Federal Regulations 26.39: Fostering Small Business Participation, SEPTA has amended its DBE Program Plan to include a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) element. Firms wishing to participate as a small business in SEPTA's contracting activities must be at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by economically disadvantaged individual(s) (i.e., personal net worth must not exceed $1.32M and average annual gross receipts for three years must not exceed $23.98M).

Interested firms must complete an SBE Verification Application and submit it with the required supporting documentation.

For more information on the SBE Program, please contact the DBE Program Office at 215-580-7278.

Attention Currently Certified DBEs: Your DBE status automatically qualifies you for participation in the SBE Program. DO NOT complete an SBE application.

SBE Verification Application | PDF

SBE Outreach Presentation | June 26, 2012 | PDF

SBE Outreach Presentation | MEDWeek 2012 | October 2, 2012 | PDF

Upcoming Events

Please check this page regularly for new events and information.

Previous Events

Doing Business with SEPTA 'Meet the Primes Networking Event' (April 2017)

PDF: U.S. Small Business Administration - "Access to Capital & Federal Contracting" (September 2016)

Rebuilding the System:

Networking Session | PDF
Rebuilding for the Future Outreach Presentation | PDF

News & Information

DBE outreach event "Taking Care of Business"

DBE Program Newsletter

Additional Resources

BizNet
Prime contractors are able to search for subcontractors to include on responses to bid invitations. Firms may also view their current contact information and business description as it is reflected in SEPTA's vendor database.

BizWeb
Prime contractors are able to submit subcontractor payment and workforce hours data electronically as it pertains to their projects. Users are required to enter a login identification and password. To request a login and password, click on the link provided on BizWeb.

Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program
SEPTA is a certifying participant in the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program (PA UCP). The UCP was established in response to a federal requirement to provide "one-stop-shopping" for businesses seeking certification by the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Businesses now complete one application to begin the DBE qualification process, recognized by all Pennsylvania agencies which receive U.S. DOT funding in excess of $250,000. Contractors looking for certified DBEs can access and search the PA UCP database, which sorts by type of business, county, or North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.

Documents provided in PDF format.

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