SOUTH CAROLINA UNIFIED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (SCUCP)

Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) seeks to offer business opportunities to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) certified through the SC Department of Transportation's (SCDOT) Unified Certification Program (UCP). Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program regulations (49 CFR, parts 23 and 26) became effective in March 1999 and require that all recipients of funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) develop a statewide certification program.
Therefore, applying through SCDOT is the only means for DBEcertification. Along with the best practices, PDRTA has made it a goal to increase the overall knowledge and awareness of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) among private and public entities in our service area. To do this, we have implemented a process to share information from the Federal and State Agencies regarding DBEs.
During our initial outreach, we have found that many local and regional Chambers of Commerce do not grasp the DBE Program. We have also found that those aware of the program do very little to promote the program to Minority and Women-led businesses. Due to this, we have implemented a guide using guidance from the US Department of Transportation for the chambers to gain additional knowledge and learn how to promote the program to those eligible.
PDRTA's DBE Program aims to develop business relationships with certified DBEs and has specific goals related to assuring a percentage of our contracts are satisfied by the utilization of DBEs. SCDOT certification guarantees a business' eligibility as a DBE and eliminates the need for a DBE to apply for the designation with multiple state agencies. Certification through the SCUCP is an absolute prerequisite to qualifying as being a DBE.

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