Reevaluation DBE/ACDBE Program

Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Interim Final Rule (IFR), published on October 3, 2025, the previously existing race- and sex-based presumption of disadvantage in the DBE/ACDBE Program regulations has been removed from federal program requirements. Under the revised rule, any individual seeking to demonstrate that he or she is a “socially and economically disadvantaged individual” must make an individualized showing of disadvantage, without regard to race or sex, in whole or in part.

This section applies ONLY to firms currently certified as DBE/ACDBE by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). To begin your reevaluation, click the link under “Reevaluation Form,” log in to your profile, select Renew/Apply, and follow the instructions provided under the Selection Options section. For additional assistance, please refer to the Resources section below and locate the document titled “DBE/ACDBE Reevaluation Guide.”

As part of the reevaluation application, you will be required to upload your Personal Narrative, Personal Net Worth Statement, and all required supporting documents. JTA-based firms must submit all reevaluation materials directly to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), while out-of-state firms and in-state Florida firms must submit all reevaluation materials to the certifying agency in their home state or the agency that originally certified their firm.

The Personal Narrative form provides the firm’s majority owner with the opportunity to present evidence of individual disadvantage across various areas of life experience, as outlined in the IFR FAQ. Please carefully review the Personal Narrative Guide, which is accessible under the Resources section below.

Once submitted, the Personal Narrative and Personal Net Worth Statement will be carefully reviewed by JTA’s Business Compliance Team in accordance with the reevaluation instructions issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation. A determination regarding the firm’s eligibility for continued participation in the DBE/ACDBE Program will be made by the certifying agency and formally communicated to the firm in writing. If, upon reevaluation, the firm is found ineligible and is decertified, federal regulations entitle the firm owner to appeal the decision under the procedures set forth in 49 CFR § 26.89.

If a firm does not wish to be reevaluated or would like to be removed from the program under the notice below, please click on the “Notice of Voluntary Removal” form and complete it.

According to the IFR, each Unified Certification Program (UCP) is required to complete the reevaluation process as expeditiously as practicable following issuance of the IFR.

All out-of-state DBE/ACDBE firms must first be reevaluated and recertified by their home state UCP before they may reapply for interstate certification, and those firms must provide an acceptance or recertification letter from their home state. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will start accepting February 16,2026 DBE interstate applications.

In accordance with the Interim Final Rule (IFR) and 49 C.F.R. § 26.85, if a firm was originally certified in one state but later certified in another state through interstate certification, the required reevaluation must be conducted by the UCP in the firm’s original jurisdiction of certification. UCPs may not certify a firm for interstate status under the new standards until the firm has been reevaluated and recertified by its original UCP pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 26.111.

JTA will be accepting new DBE/ACDBE applications through the portal starting February 16, 2026.

JTA encourages all non‑DBE/ACDBE firms to apply for our Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program. (Please note: No personal narrative is required, as the SBE program is race‑ and gender‑neutral.)

We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to process applications as quickly as possible. Our team will provide regular updates on the status of your application; however, applicants are also encouraged to check their profile under the Q&A section for any requests from specialists for additional documentation or status updates.

If you have questions, please contact us:

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) continues to foster small businesses through our programs. Please note that the DBE/ACDBE reevaluation process does not affect your standing in our other programs, such as SBE or LSBE, for certified firms. If you choose not to participate in the DBE/ACDBE reevaluation or do not wish to remain in the DBE/ACDBE program, your other certifications will remain active unless you request removal from those programs or fail to submit required annual eligibility documentation.