On U.S. DOT–funded highway, transit, and airport projects, agencies set DBE contract goals. Bidders must either meet the goal or document good-faith efforts to do so, usually at the time of bid. Falling short on both can render a bid nonresponsive. (Note: the federal program was revised in late 2025, so verify current certification and goal rules.)
Only work performed by firms certified through the Unified Certification Program in the relevant state counts toward the goal. Credit is generally limited to the value the DBE actually performs with its own forces or supplies. Good-faith-effort documentation typically means showing you solicited certified firms, broke work into biddable packages, and gave them timely access to plans, not simply that you tried. The documentation is deadline-sensitive and easy to miss in a thick spec. Nonlinear extracts DBE goals and good-faith-effort requirements during Spec Takeoff so teams can line up certified subs before bid day.
