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Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Advisory Committee



 






The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) advisory committee is a group of DBE firms, large prime contractors, industry partner representatives, and ODOT staff. This group meets as a cohort throughout the year addressing barriers DBE firms face when contracting with ODOT and developing recommendations or providing feedback. 

DBE Advisory Committee Purposes:
  • To determine availability and capacity of DBE firms in ODOT's relevant market area.
  • To determine challenges and barriers for DBE firms in ODOT's solicitation and contracting process.
  • To identify other possible contracting disparities between the availability and the utilization of ready, willing and able firms to participate in contracts for goods and services related to the operations, maintenance and construction of highways, bridges and other related transportation facilities in the state of Oregon.
  • To review work of the prior cohort, including revisiting the list of barriers faced by DBE firms and assessing progress made toward reducing those barriers.
  • To present a prioritized list of recommendations to ODOT to evaluate for implementation.
  • To develop DBE specific supportive services to address identified barriers.
  • To establish a long-term legacy for future cohorts so the DBE Advisory Committee may serve as an on-going resource for ODOT and the Oregon DBE community.​​

​In September 2020, the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) allocated funds for a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Advisory Committee that would identify and address the barriers that impact DBE’s in Oregon.

The initial cohort of the DBE Advisory Committee met from ​​September 2022 through July 2023. This group built on previous work to identify barriers that DBE firms face when contracting with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). A second cohort was launched in Fall 2023 to pick up the work that the first cohort started. The second cohort met four times through 2024.

In the fall of 2024 new DBE firms were recruited to join the advisory committee. Cohort three launched in January 2025 and met five times through the calendar year. At the end of 2025 it was decided that the cohort would continue through 2026 to build on momentum created in the last year.​

2020
  • September: Oregon Transportation Commission funds. ODOT’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) to strengthen DBE supportive services.​
2022
  • July: Formation of the first DBE Advisory Committee cohort (supported by OECR and PRR consultants).
  • September – July 2023: Committee meets eight times, building toward recommendations.
2023
  • July: Executive Summary published.
  • ​Recommendations from first cohort:
    • ​Address six priority barriers:​
      1. ​Indigenous classification expansi​​on.
      2. Task approval process improvements.
      3. Open communication with primes.
      4. Prompt payment enforcement.
      5. Low bid contracting flexibility.
      6. Access to work under bundled A&E and construction contracts.
  • ​Future Cohort Recommendations:
    • ​2023–2024 Cohort: Focus on six barriers; invite previous members; meet monthly in working groups and quarterly as full committee.
    • 2024–2025 Cohorts: Limit work to two barriers; break into working groups earlier; improve communication and onboarding; prioritize BIPOC-owned businesses.
  • September: Cohort 1 recap.
    • ​​Overview of recruitment for Cohort 2.
    • Plan to meet with Technical Advisors.
​2024
  • ​March: Cohort 2 kick-off and barrier prioritization.
    • Update on Small Business Development Program – addresses barrier 6.
  • July: Federal rule changes update and impacts at ODOT.
    • ​​Barrier 4 research share-out.
    • Small Business Navigator role overview and introduction.
    • AASHTOWare intro and overview for DBEs.
  • ​​​​October: Overview of work accomplished so far.
    • S​tatus update on work done towards each barrier.
    • Next steps – recruitment of new DBE’s and primes to participate.
2025
  • January: New cohort 3 kick-off meeting.
    • ​Committee introductions and background share-out.
    • How to be successful with ODOT break-outs.
    • Plan for 2025 formation.
  • ​March: AASHTOWare – what you need to know presentation.
    • ​FHWA introduction and DBE Q&A.
    • Prime contractor pre-qualification overview.
    • DBE supportive services update.
  • ​May: Disparity study update.
    • ​Small Business Development Program update.
    • Doing Business with ODOT recap.
    • ADA project update.
  • September: DBE program update.
    • ​Open Ended Performance Plan: what is it.
    • Small Business Development Program launch overview.
    • Oregon Small Business Enterprise overview.
    • Tips for Success review and feedback session.
    • DBEAC next year/next steps.
  • ​​November: Cohort 3 reintroduction and ice breaker.
    • ​DBE program update – interim final rule announcement.
    • Re-certification plan and update – COBID.
    • DBEAC 2026 plan and next steps.

Applicants to the DBE Advisory Committee may request reasonable accommodation to this program and application process. Submit requests to ODOT no less than 3 business days before the application deadline. Email ODOT_ADA@odot.oregon.gov or call toll free 855-540-6655.