Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, DBEs for short, are for-profit small business concerns where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest and also control management and daily business operations.

African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific and Subcontinent Asian Americans, and women are presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged. Other individuals can also qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis.

It is the policy of the BOCC to ensure that DBEs, as defined in Part 26 of TheBus DBE Program, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-Assisted contracts.

The DBE goal established for federal fiscal years 2024-2026 is 1%. Hernando County's Goal Setting Methodology can be viewed in the spreadsheet below.

• • Overall Goal Calculation

Our policies also include:

1. 1. To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-Assisted contracts;
   2. To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-Assisted contracts;
   3. To ensure that the DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
   4. To ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs;
   5. To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-Assisted contracts;
   6. To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the market place outside the DBE Program.