The Department of Supplier Diversity (DSD) provides certification for the Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) programs.
Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) Program
An SLBE is defined as a small business concern that is organized for profit and is located within a 100-mile radius of the District of Columbia's zero-mile marker. A small business is defined, for SLBE purposes, as a firm that is not dominant in its field, and that meets the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) small business size standards for the goods or services it will be providing in a specific solicitation.
Federally Funded Programs
Firms interested in Airports Authority DBE contract opportunities may apply for certification to either of the two entities in the Virginia Unified Certification Program (UCP): the Airports Authority or the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity. Firms certified by other certifying agencies in the United States that are interested in participating on Authority contracts must also receive certification by one of the UCP certifying entities prior to the solicitation due date in order to be counted toward the DBE goal on the Authority’s solicitation.
The Department of Supplier Diversity (DSD) utilizes a Supplier Diversity Management System (SDMS) to manage its programs which includes a database of certified firms. Contractors must utilize the SDMS for certification, training and compliance activities.