Minnesota's MnDOT Introduces New Regulations For Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Starting February 2025

Minnesota's MnDOT Introduces New Regulations For Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Starting February 2025

The Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights is set to roll out new requirements for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) Special Provisions, coming into effect as part of the MnDOT Letting on February 26, 2025. Key changes include a tightened deadline for documentation, the move to electronic submissions, and an adjustment in the DBE credit system for distributors.

Starting February 26, any contractor participating in a project letting is expected to submit their DBE documentation no later than the fifth day post-letting. This delivery is now confined to email submissions, a sign pointing towards MnDOT's shift to more streamlined, digital processes. It should be noted that the fifth day cutoff does not carry a specific time, submissions are allowed at any point within that day.

Also catching the eye of industry insiders is the newly increased DBE credit category for distributors, now standing at 40% – a move aimed to further support and acknowledge the critical role distributors play in the construction supply chain, as per MnDOT documents.

The updates also entail an "Updated Exhibit A" and a "Regular dealer/distributor affirmation form," reinforcing the documentation aspect of the contractor's agreement with the department's DBE program rules. While these changes underscore an evolution in the framework, contractors must, nevertheless, adhere to the existing provisions up until the new rules kick in later in February.

For those looking for further details, resources can be found directly via MnDOT links provided in their bulletin, including direct access to the DBE Special Provisions, Exhibit A, and the DBE Regular Dealer/Distributor Affirmation Form—all of which were published as noted on January 23rd, 2025 by the MnDOT.

SOURCE: hoodline