In order to qualify as a DBE one must meet the following:

• Must be a socially and economically disadvantage individual who owns at least 51% and controls the business.
• Is a disadvantage U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the U.S.
• Meets the Small Business Administration (SBS’s) size standard and does not exceed $23.98 million over a three year period.
• Is organized as a for- profit business.

Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise(DBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) means a small business concern which is at least fifty-one (51%) percent owned by one or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals, or in the case of any public owned business, at least fifty one (51) percent pf the stock of which is owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or  more or the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who owns it.

Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals means those individual  who are citizens of the United States  ((or lawfully admitted permanent resident) and are:

• Women
• Black American
• Hispanic
• Native Americans
• Asian-Pacific Americans
• Asian-Indian Americans