In Nevada, getting certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) can help to level the playing field for companies that want to compete for state and federal contract opportunities that include goals to work with disadvantaged small firms.
“Certification does not guarantee a contract, but it helps women, small and minority owned companies to compete equally with other big and perhaps more experienced firms,” said David Eclips, ABCDE/DBE liaison officer at the Clark County Department of Aviation.
Eclips, an SBOP resource partner, helps local small businesses ensure they have all of the information and support they need to apply for certification through McCarran International Airport--one of the state’s two DBE certification agencies. DBE applications can also be submitted through the Nevada Department of Transportation.
“If there is a DBE goal on a contract/project and you are a certified DBE company awarded that project, your DBE Certification would benefit the project because the DBE Certification helps them reach their DBE goal established within the company,” Eclips explained.
Eclips emphasized that “pennies from heaven” won’t rain down on a company after certification. He said a company has to go out and get the work. Hard work paired with certification has been a game-changer for many companies.
“One that comes to mind right now. I met a small business owner at KOR Building Group, owned by Rebecca Fountain. She wanted to know how to get certified and work at the airport. She got certified and now she’s doing projects at McCarran. She has established herself pretty well now and also does work for some local resorts and tenants at the airport,” said Eclips.
The DBE certification application process is stringent and certification is free of charge. As long as your company remains eligible for DBE status, the certification does not expire. To qualify, be prepared to meet several requirements. For example, the majority owner must be 51% percent or more in total control of the company, must be the organization’s final decision-maker, and cannot exceed a personal net worth of $1,32 million.
Applicants must be prepared to submit a variety of documents including the resume of the owner, copies of business license and or articles of organization, personal tax returns for the past three years and federal taxes for the business for the past three years, if you’ve been in business that long.
All applications are submitted to the Nevada Unified Certification Program Board, which is made up of representatives from the Reno-Tahoe Airport, Carson City, NDOT, Regional Transportation Commission (North and South), and McCarran. The board reviews all applications and brings them to a final vote within 90 days of submission.
Certification is just one of many topics we address with small business owners in the Clark County Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP). If you want to do business with Clark County and would like some help learning Purchasing processes and procedures, we encourage you to apply.