534-27 DBE Certification

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is soliciting written proposals for solicitation number SRC0000041292 to provide comprehensive administrative and technical support for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) programs. As a leader in the Ohio Unified Certification Program (UCP), ODOT requires a vendor to assist in implementing USDOT regulations, developing standard operating procedures, conducting certifications and investigations, and performing quality assurance reviews. Key deliverables include drafting and revising SOPs, conducting on-site and desk reviews of certified firms, processing notices of change, and providing staff training. All work must comply with 49 CFR Part 26 and 49 CFR Part 23, as well as accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508. Proposers must submit their responses through the OhioBuys portal by the deadline of September 15, 2026. Proposals are required to include an implementation and management plan, an organizational structure and staffing plan with resumes, and a separate cost proposal submitted in Excel format. Evaluation for this solicitation involves a technical performance review where bidders must achieve a minimum threshold of 352 out of 440 total technical points to advance to the cost evaluation. For Request for Proposals (RFPs), the award will be made based on a trade-off approach, balancing technical merit and cost using a Cost per Quality Point metric. Special requirements include the necessity for key personnel, including the Technical Lead, to be physically located in Central Ohio during the onboarding phase, and strict adherence to data privacy and security protocols for handling sensitive information.