Federal regulations that became effective as of March 4, 1999, require each direct recipient of funding from the United States Department of Transportation to establish a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. The purpose of the program is to prohibit unlawful discrimination, to establish a goal for minority participation, to establish procedures for meeting those goals whenever possible by race neutral means, to create a level playing field, and to achieve that amount of DBE participation that would be obtained in a non-discriminatory market place. The regulations also require all recipients of funding by the United States Department of Transportation to establish a Unified Certification Program. The Mississippi Unified Certification Program will follow all certification procedures and standards as set forth in 49 CFR Part 26, on the same basis as recipients. The Mississippi Unified Certification Program will cooperate fully with oversight, review, and monitoring activities of the USDOT and its operating administrations and implement USDOT directives and guidance concerning certification matters. The regulations may be found at 49 CFR Part 26.

UCP Program Details