In December 2018, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Participation in Procurement under Assistance Agreement Program (DBE Program) was realigned within EPA and moved from the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to the Office of Grants and Debarment (OGD). However, the objectives of the overall program remain unchanged.

Objectives

The objectives of EPA’s DBE program are:

• to ensure nondiscrimination in the award of contracts under EPA financial assistance agreements;
• to operate harmoniously with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 U.S. 200 (1995);
• to help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in the award of contracts under EPA financial assistance agreements; and
• to provide appropriate flexibility to recipients of EPA financial assistance in establishing and providing contracting opportunities for DBEs.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Questions related to the DBE exception issued October 1, 2019 
• General questions for DBEs 

More Information

For more information on the EPA DBE Program, please see the following links:

• DBE Program Requirements
• EPA DBE Memorandums
• DBE Coordinators 
• DBE Part 33 Exceptions