Small, Minority & Disadvantaged Business 

image of MBE logo
Photo of a Diverse Business Team

Maryland's Official Certification Agency

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is Maryland's official certification agency for the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program, and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program. We ensure only bona fide MBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE firms participate in our program through our comprehensive certification program. Certified firms appear in MDOT's Online Directory of Certified Firms.

Please visit the "Certifications and Forms" page for information on the certification programs and required documentation. Please contact the OMBE office for assistance regarding the certification programs.

Our Mission

The Maryland Department of Transportation is a customer-driven leader that delivers safe, sustainable, intelligent, exceptional, and inclusive transportation solutions in order to connect our customers to life’s opportunities.


Important Messages

The State of Maryland is currently conducting a Disparity Study. For more information, please visit State of Maryland Disparity Study (stateofmddisparitystudy.com).

The 2024 SBA T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined Program is now open.

The SBA T.H.R.I.V.E. program combines business fundamentals with innovative tools and competitive strategies that are tailored to small business owners like you. Through a comprehensive curriculum that covers everything from financial management to marketing and sales, you'll learn the skills and strategies you need to drive growth and achieve your business goals. With a mix of virtual and in-person sessions, the curriculum is taught by experienced subject matter experts and includes curated business coaching for C-level executives.


Eligibility Qualifications:

The T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined advanced training series is open to small business owners and executives who:
  • Have annual revenues of at least $250,000
  • Have been in business for at least three years
  • Have at least two employees other than themselves
  • Can commit to completing the entire program, including coaching, submitting assignments, participating during in-person sessions, and reaching out for help
  • Are coachable, ready to be challenged and supported, and willing to put in the necessary work to accelerate growth
Essential details about T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined:
  • Applications are open from February 19, 2024 to May 1, 2024
  • The program runs from June 2024 through December 2024
  • Attendance is required for the eight in-person sessions at your local cohort

To learn more and apply, please visit our website at sbathrive.com

Pursuant to federal regulation 49 C.F.R. Part 23, when establishing ACDBE Program goals, MDOT must consult with stakeholders, which include, without limitation, minority and women’s business groups, community organizations, trade associations representing concessionaires currently located at the airport, existing concessionaries, and other officials or organizations that may have information concerning the availability of disadvantaged businesses, the effects of discrimination on opportunities for small, minority and disadvantaged firms, and the MAA’s efforts to increase ACDBE participation. To comply with this requirement, we are seeking stakeholder input through surveys and public meetings

Your input is important and may be used to enhance operations of the ACDBE Program at MAA. Please register to participate in one of our Public Information Sessions and complete the Online Survey.

The online survey must be completed by January 26, 2024 and can be accessed here.

The Public Consultation Sessions are scheduled as follows:
Prime Contractors Only: January 17, 2024 from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (Register here).
Subcontractors Only: January 17, 2024 from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (Register here).

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Small and Minority Business Policy at mdotmbeoutreach@mdot.maryland.gov or 410-865-1298.

It has come to our attention that a phishing email has been directed to firms in the active Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Directory of Certified Firms. The email was not generated by MDOT. Any emails being sent by the software system MDOT utilizes for certification applications and annual review monitoring will always com from MarylandMDBE@mdbecert.com.

Please do not click on any links or open email attachments from suspicious sites. A copy of the contents of the phishing email is shown below for your information:

Photo of SPAM email

Maryland small business owners can now offer their employees access to a savings plan for emergencies and retirement that is safe and trustworthy. MARYLAND$AVES was created by the State of Maryland and launched in the fall of 2022. Employers register for free and pay no ongoing fees for offering the WorkLife Savings account to their employees. In fact, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation will waive the $300 annual report filing fee for every qualified employers that enrolls in the program. Employees control the WorkLife Savings account themselves. They contribute through payroll deductions and decide how much to save and when to withdraw from their savings. Learn more about this flexible and secure employee savings program.
Photo of Maryland$aves

Maryland$aves

As of January 1, 2024 the Personal Net Worth cap applied to the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program increased from $1,995,008 to $2,073,412. For more information, please click the link. here.

** ATTENTION** If you receive an email with the subject line “Maryland DOT MBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE Certified & Approved Firms {SECURED} Notice” with a link please ignore. This is SPAM and has been reported to MDOT’s IT Department. Do Not Click on any links or send any information to a dropbox and delete the message. If you ever question the validity of any email do not hesitate to contact the Office of Minority Business Enterprise (OMBE).

Email: mbe@mdot.maryland.gov
Phone: 410-865-1269

The MBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE Certification Application Assistance Webinar dates for 2024 have been posted. Registration is now open! 2024 MBE/DBE/ACDBE AAW Schedule

Date Time Registration Link
May 7, 2024 10:00 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3959008654352752726
June 4, 2024 10:00 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3962090585445412960
June 4, 2024 5:30 PM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4070546412409246298
July 2, 2024 10:00 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3110315420081779289
August 6, 2024 10:00 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3156909424332047450
September 10, 2024 10:00 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8385575397569665116
September 10, 2024 5:30 PM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8439882475888785237
September 17, 2024
(Español/Spanish Only)
10:00 AM https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mdot-mbedbeadcbesbe-taller-de-asistencia-para-solicitudes-tickets-880456177127?aff=oddtdtcreator
October 1, 2024 10:00 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1006939780541672285
November 5, 2024 10:00 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1440274905565537109
December 3, 2024 10:00 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/968768036285496669
December 3, 2024 5:30 PM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6713966980066220121

The Maryland Department of Transportation, Office of Minority Business Enterprise is pleased to announce the implementation of a new Certification Management System (CMS), accessed through a cloud-based web portal. On-line Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE), Airport Concession Disadvantage Business Enterprise (ACDBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) applications for new certifications and Annual Reviews will be processed through this new system. Key features include the following:

  • Online applications for new certifications and annual reviews
  • Enhanced Online Directory with key-word search capabilities
  • Electronic submission of changes to the business firm profile
  • Online training on how to use the system for certification and annual review
  • Ability to submit online technical support ticket 24/7 Click Here - Online Support
OMBE staff can be contacted directly at 410-865-1269 or by email at MBE@mdot.maryland.gov for general inquires or mbereview@mdot.maryland.gov for Annual Review specific inquiries.

CHANGE IN 3-YEAR MEASURE to 5-YEAR MEASURE for NAICS CODE SIZE CALCULATIONS

The Small Business Administration (SBA) amended the regulation by which SBA establishes how a business meets size standards for a particular NAICS code. Effective January 6, 2022, the period has been changed from 3 years to 5 years.

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) DBE size cap found at 49 C.F.R. 26.65(b) is still subject to the 3-year gross receipts average.

For more information including application instructions visit the SBA's Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resource Webpage


SHA FFYs 2023-2024 MAA DBE FFYs 2020-2022 MAA ACDBE FFYs 2021-2023 MAA ACDBE FFYs 2021-2023 MTA FFYs 2023-2025 MDOT- TSO Planning FFYs 2022-2024

Overall 26.39%

Overall 27.5%

Non-Car Rental Overall 30.32%

Car Rental Overall 3.56%

Overall 30.0%

Overall 26.2 %

Race Conscious 22.90%

Race Conscious 26.11%

Race Conscious 25.80%

Race Conscious 3.35%

Race Conscious 26.98%

Race Conscious 19.2%

Race Neutral 3.49%

Race Neutral 1.39%

Race Neutral 4.52%

Race Neutral 0.21%

Race Neutral 3.02%

Race Neutral 7.0%


MDOT-Planning has proposed the following DBE Goal for FFYs 2022-2024 for the Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWPs) of each Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), USDOT funded projects.

MDOT-SHA is proposing the following DBE Goal for FFYs 2022-2024. If there are any questions, please contact the MBE Office at mdotmbeoutreach@mdot.maryland.gov and/or call 410-865-1298.


More Information


Welcome to MDOT Office of Minority Business Enterprise

News & Upcoming Events