(JUNEAU, Alaska) – The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) has received approval from the Federal Highway Administration to operate a race-neutral Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program to be achieved without affirmative actions. Specifically, prime contractors are no longer required to use DBE's as a condition of award.

ADOT&PF was granted the change because Alaska’s contractors know the value of using smaller businesses as subcontractors and support the establishment and growth of minority owned and operated business.

ADOT&PF Civil Rights Office staff has worked to educate small businesses to the advantages of being a certified DBE. The department developed a web based self-registration process where prime contractors can quickly and easily identify DBEs interested and available for work on a project. These tools and education opportunities will continue to be developed in order to keep the department’s race neutral status with FHWA.

Persons seeking information regarding the race-neutral DBE Program plan may contact Dennis Good, Civil Rights Office Manager, at 907-269-0848 or dennis.good@alaska.gov.

More information about ADOT&PF’s DBE program may be found at dotcivilrights.alaska.gov.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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