Nuts & Bolts | Construction Law Blog

Becoming certified as an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise), WBE (Woman Business Enterprise), and/or DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) may offer greater opportunities to those minority-owned, woman-owned, and socially or economically disadvantaged contractors and suppliers seeking to bid on publicly funded contracts. Because construction or procurement contracts awarded by federal, state, or local government entities often require that a certain percentage of the work be contracted to MBEs, WBEs, and/or DBEs, a contractor or supplier holding that certification may increase their likelihood of being selected for those projects. However, there are some legal considerations that contractors and suppliers should be aware of surrounding the MBE, WBE, and DBE certification process.