South Dakota DBE Program

Learn about the disadvantaged business enterprise program for the State of South Dakota.

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DBE Program Info

The Department’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is designed to remedy ongoing discrimination and the continuing effects of past discrimination in federally-assisted highway, transit, airport, and highway safety financial assistance transportation contracting markets nationwide. 

The primary remedial goal and objective of the SD DBE program is to level the playing field by providing small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts.

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Funded through the Federal Highway Administration, the SDDOT DBE Business Development Program (BDP) is intended to support SD DBE program participants. The DBE Business Development program is designed to give you and your team the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to grow your business.

We work directly with you, the business owner, to identify organizational goals and areas of focus that will help move your business forward. We work hard to develop relationships with our clients to truly understand the personality and culture of your business so that we can uniquely tailor curriculum based on the current stage of your business and help determine growth strategies.
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Project Solutions, Inc. serves as the support services provider for the South Dakota DOT DBE program. As the support service provider, Project Solutions has a team of professionals that can help support your business, no matter the need. From application assistance while getting certified to business development after you have received your certification, here are some of the services we offer:

  • Application and Program Assistance
  • Business Development Training Opportunities
  • Capability Statement Development
  • Writing a Business Plan

Our resource library of training videos and other resources will be your go-to platform for taking your SD DBE business to the next level. Training videos on topics like:

  • Certified Payroll
  • Managing & Leading
  • Communication
  • Social Media
  • Job Costing
  • Onboarding and Employee Retention
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Announcements

Important Update on the USDOT Interim Final Rule (IFR) and South Dakota DBE Recertification
The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is moving forward with the implementation of the USDOT’s Interim Final Rule (IFR), which requires all currently certified DBE firms to complete a full reevaluation under the new federal guidelines.


What’s Happening Now
To assist firms through this transition, Project Solutions Inc., the SDDOT DBE Supportive Services provider, recently hosted a workshop focused on:

  • Understanding the new requirements
  • How to develop and write your Personal Narrative
  • One-on-one support and guidance throughout the recertification process
If you were unable to attend the live workshops, please note that a recorded version of the workshop will be made available on SDDBE.com and the SDDOT website in the coming weeks. 

DBEs are encouraged to review the workshop before submitting their narrative to SDDOT. 
 

Next Steps for Firms Interested in Recertification
South Dakota firms who are interested in getting reevaluated for the DBE program should have their Personal Narrative (PN) and Personal Net Worth (PNW) Statement submitted by March 27th. Documents can either be emailed to Kyle.Watkins@state.sd.us or firms can contact Kyle Watkins at 605.773.4906 to set up a SharePoint folder to upload their documents.  

If firms are unsure at this time, they can submit their PN and PNW Statement at any time to be reevaluated. The firm’s DBE status will be considered inactive and participation on projects by the firm will not be counted toward the DBE goal until their recertification is complete.


Current Status of DBE Firms
Under the IFR requirements, all South Dakota DBE firms are temporarily listed as inactive until they complete the reevaluation process. 


What This Means for Statewide Goal Setting
Once SDDOT has reviewed and processed all recertification submissions, the department will resume work on DBE goal methodology and development which are a vital part of getting the DBE program started again. 

SDDOT is committed to completing this recertification effort as quickly as practicable to comply with federal requirements while minimizing disruption for DBE firms.

If you have any questions regarding the IFR and the reevaluation process, please reach out to Kyle Watkins, SDDOT DBE Program Coordinator at 605.773.4906 or Kyle.Watkins@state.sd.us. 

Featured Article

How to Be a Better Negotiator

Whether you’re discussing terms with suppliers, negotiating contracts with clients, or seeking investment, negotiation is an essential skill that small business owners use constantly. That doesn’t change the fact that for many, negotiation is a challenging, anxiety-inducing experience. It can be disheartening to feel that your business is impeded by its weaknesses; however, negotiation is a skill that can be acquired. With adequate practice and preparation, you can approach your next negotiation with a composed and assured demeanor, confident in your capability to achieve your objectives. In this article, we will look at a few ideas you can use to step up your negotiating game. While we will focus primarily on negotiations with potential clients, the ideas can be applied to any negotiation.

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