One Certification, Two Markets: What Interstate DBE Status Can Do for Your Business

Certification isn’t a wall you build once and never touch again.  It is a foundation to be built upon. That’s the case for interstate DBE certification, and it’s why we want our members to understand exactly how it works.

If your firm is already DBE-certified in Georgia, you don’t have to start from scratch to compete for DOT-assisted work in North Carolina. Under federal interstate certification rules (49 C.F.R. §26.85), a state that grants you interstate certification must recognize your existing NAICS codes and the disadvantage determination your home state already made. You’re not reapplying, you’re extending.

For our members eyeing growth across state lines, that means:

A faster path onto new contracts. Interstate certification lets you compete for DBE participation goals on NCDOT-funded projects without rebuilding your certification file from scratch.

A bigger bidding pool. More certifying states means more agencies, more primes, and more project pipelines where your firm is eligible to be counted toward DBE goals.

Real regional scale. Firms that hold certification in more than one state aren’t just growing their footprint, they’re positioning themselves as regional players that primes actively seek out for multi-state programs.

A note on where things stand right now: NCDOT is currently accepting interstate applications, and the process requires your complete home-state application package, so have your Georgia certification file ready to go. GDOT’s interstate application process is currently paused while the agency completes a federally mandated re-evaluation of its certification criteria; we’ll update members as soon as that reopens.

If you’re DBE-certified in Georgia and considering North Carolina, reach out. We’re glad to walk you through what documentation NCDOT will ask for.

Sources: North Carolina Department of Transportation, Unified Certification Program (UCP) for DBE Firms; Georgia Department of Transportation, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program; U.S. Department of Transportation, Interstate Certification, 49 C.F.R. §26.85.