DBE and ACDBE Certification Technical Assistance Services

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) Solicitation No. 601440000050750 for DBE and ACDBE Certification Technical Assistance Services. The primary objective is to secure a vendor to provide comprehensive technical support for the re-evaluation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) certification firms within Texas. Vendors must possess a minimum of ten years of experience in DBE and ACDBE certification within the past fifteen years. Key deliverables include reviewing firms' personal narratives, financial documents, and providing advisory services to TxDOT's re-evaluation team. The vendor will be required to begin work within five calendar days of authorization, monitor compliance risks, and attend virtual meetings as directed by the TxDOT Program Manager. The bid response is due on October 27, 2025, at 3:00 PM Central Time, with a tentative contract award date of October 31, 2025. The contract term is one year, commencing upon issuance and expiring on October 31, 2026, with no renewal options.

The procurement is considered an emergency purchase under Texas Government Code and requires vendors to comply with federal requirements, including the removal of race- and sex-based presumptions in defining socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed, the contract is focused on supporting DBE and ACDBE certification processes. The solicitation follows new Interim Final Rule (IFR) standards effective October 3, 2025, which suggests a significant regulatory shift in certification requirements. Pricing details are minimally specified, with the pricing schedule requiring vendors to submit unit prices for a Project Manager and Vendor Reports, with warnings that failure to provide pricing or submitting a $0.00 price will result in a non-responsive bid. The document emphasizes strict compliance requirements, including mandatory submission of unit prices in Excel format. While no specific award value or budget range is provided, the contract represents a critical technical assistance service for maintaining and re-evaluating DBE and ACDBE certifications in Texas.