Certification Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Penn DOT)
Bureau of Equal Opportunity
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Division
Commonwealth Keystone Bldg.
400 N. Street
5M West
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Tel: (800) 468-4201
Fax: (717) 772-4026
Contact: Jocelyn Harper
email: jharper@pennDOT.state.pa.us
Penn DOT only certifies construction companies or construction-related consultants. To work on Penn DOT projects a firm must be certified as a DBE by Penn DOT.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
DBE Program Office
1234 Market Street, 11th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3780
Tel: (215) 580-7359
Fax: (215) 580-7261
Contact: John W. Payton/Lillie Claitt
website: www.septa.org
Before SEPTA begins the certification process for a company, the business owner must complete an affidavit. To do business with SEPTA, it is recommended that the firm be certified by SEPTA. However, SEPTA will accept certifications from other agencies. An initial certification performed by SEPTA is good for three years. If, however, the company is certified by another agency, SEPTA will treat the company as being certified only for the period that its certification with the other agency is valid.
City of Philadelphia Minority Business Enterprise Council (MBEC)
1401 JFK Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1666
Tel: (215) 686-3876
Fax: (215) 686-3878
Contact: Paul Newman
email: paul.newman@phila.gov
MBEC certifies just about all minority and women-owned firms. To do business with the City of Philadelphia, the firm must be certified by the City. For further information or a certification application please contact this office.
Bureau of Contract Administration & Business Development, Department of General Services
Bureau of Contract Administration, Department of General Services Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
502 North Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17125
Tel: (717) 787-7380
Fax: (717) 787-7052
Contact: Certification Unit
website: www.dgs.state.pa.us
Department of General Services certifies those firms that may not be construction - related, and thus not certified by Penn DOT. To do work with this agency or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a firm must be certified by either the Department of General Services, Penn DOT, or other agency within the Commonwealth.
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJ DOT)
Division of Civil Rights
1035 Parkway Avenue
P.O. Box 600
Trenton, NJ 08625-0600
Tel: (609) 530-3882
Fax: (609) 530-4030
Contact: Linda Errico
email: lindaerrico@DOT.state.nj.us
NJ DOT does not certify every firm as an MBE/WBE/DBE. There is a certain eligibility requirement that a firm must meet in order to be certified as an MBE/WBE/DBE. To do business on NJ DOT projects, a firm must be certified by NJ DOT.
New Jersey Transit
One Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ 07105-2246
Tel: (973) 491-8060
Fax: (973) 491-4011
Contact: Ernest Williams
email: chrmecw@njtransit.state.nj.us
NJ Transit has an application procedure that follows the guidelines of the federal government's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. In order to be certified as a DBE/MBE/WBE, a company must meet the stringent DBE review standards. To do business with NJ Transit under their Special Preference Program, a firm must be certified by NJ Transit. To bid as a prime, however, a firm need not be certified by the agency, but NJ Transit will make an effort to get the firm certified.
State of New Jersey
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
Division of Development for Small Business and Women and Minority Business
20 W. State Street
P.O. Box 820
Trenton, NJ 08680-1206
Tel: (609) 777-0885
Fax: (609) 292-9145
Contact: Chuck Jones
website: www.state.nj.us/commerce/smallbiz.html
This agency generally certifies all firms that come in as an MBE or WBE. The major factors it considers are whether the business is independently owned and operated; whether a minority or woman owns 51% of the company, whether the minority has long term control of the business; and whether the minority or woman owner has control of the day-to-day operations. Generally, to do business with he Commission, the firm must be certified by it. However, the Commission will accept M/WBE certifications from NJ Transit and the Port Authority of NY and NJ.
The City of Camden
Affirmative Action Office
City of Camden
c/o Office of City Attorney
13th Floor, City Hall Bldg.
P.O. Box 95120
Camden, NJ 08101
Tel: (856) 757-7211
Fax: (856) 968-4708
This office certifies all minorities and/or women who qualify as MBEs or WBEs. To participate in the City's open competitive bid process, a MBE or WBE does not have to be certified by the City of Camden.
Delaware Department of Transportation (Del DOT)
800 Bay Road
P.O. Box 778
Dover, DE 19903
Tel: (302) 760-2035
Fax: (302) 739-2254
Contact: Lawrence C. Smith
website: www.delDOT.net
Del DOT only certifies DBE firms, however they have a registry for contractors, consultants & vendors. Contact Lawrence C. Smith for information on how to register or how to become certified in the state of Delaware.
Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
Women's Business Development Center (WBDC)
(Agency only certifies WBEs)
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 1116
Philadelphia, PA 19107-4711
Tel: (215) 790-9232
Fax: (215) 790-9231
Contact: Geri Swift, President
email: gswift@womensbdc.org
The WBDC is a certifying partner for the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC is a non-profit organization committed to educating the public, government, and corporations about the products and services available from companies owned, managed, and controlled by women. WBENC provides a national certification standard and an Internet accessible database of certified WBEs.
Minority Supplier Development Council of PA-NJ-DE (MSDC)
MSDC Certification
(Agency only certifies MBEs)
225 South 15th Street, Suite 401
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: (215) 893-9977
Fax: (215) 893-9981
Contact: Darlene Jenkins, Interim President
email: nmsdc.panjde@verizon.net
website: http://msdc.adaptone.com/panjde/
The MSDC of PA-NJ-DE facilitates MBE purchasing opportunities with the private sector, provides education and training in business management and planning and disseminates information regarding contract opportunities. MBEs receive certification through the nationally recognized program of the Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC). Under the NMSDC umbrella, MBEs qualify for reciprocal certification with the over 40 regional councils throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Office of Minority Enterprise Development
900 Market Street, 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tel: (215) 580-2714
Fax: (215) 580-2759
Contact: James M. Corbett
email: james.m.corbett@sba.gov
The U.S. SBA has three types of certifications, the 8(a) program, S/DB Program and the Hub Zone Contractors Program. The 8(a) program certifies social & economic disadvantaged businesses. The eligible person must be a U.S. Citizen and the company must be a small business. The certification is based on which SIC codes the company falls under. The company is considered to be a socially disadvantaged business if they have been discriminated against based on social/racial biases. The network must not exceed $250,000 in order for the company to be deemed economically disadvantaged. The company must be 51% both owned and controlled by the individual claiming eligibility and the company must be up and operating for at least 2 years, which is proven by Federal Tax returns. If the company is accepted into the 8(a) program, it is automatically accepted in the S/DB Program. Entry into the S/DB Program does not grant entry into the 8(a) program. The SBA holds an orientation about the 8(a) program every fourth Thursday of the month, at the Philadelphia office (9th and Market), where assistance is given about the program and the necessary steps that are needed to become certified. The S/DB Program certifies companies who are small, disadvantaged businesses. If a company is not given entry into the 8(a) program, then the company must apply for the S/DB Program. The application can be found at the SBA web site at www.sba.gov. The Hub Zone Contractors Program is for contractors in the SBA Hub Zones. To find out if your company is in a Hub Zone, visit the Web site at www.sba.gov/hubzone.
Allegheny County Office of Minority/Woman/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
204 County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Tel: (412) 350-4309
Contact:Cameil Williams
Port Authority of Allegheny County Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Division
345 6th Avenue, 3rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527
Tel: (412) 566-5257
Contact: Edward Greene
