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Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
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Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program

The Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program is similar to the DBE Program. ACDBE is designed to level the playing field for small businesses wanting to do business with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (Alaska DOT&PF) and other agencies receiving federal funds through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and that wish to participate in contracting and concession opportunities at airports.

Establishment:
The ACDBE Program was established by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) in 1987 through regulations issued under the authority of the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982.

Objectives:
The primary objective of the ACDBE Program is to ensure that small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals have a fair opportunity to participate in concession contracts at airports. More specifically, under 49 CFR Part 23.1, the program aims to:

  • Ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of opportunities for concessions at airports receiving DOT financial assistance;
  • Create a level playing field on which ACDBEs can compete fairly for concession opportunities;
  • Ensure that the Department's ACDBE program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
  • Ensure that only firms that fully meet the eligibility standards of this part are permitted to participate as ACDBEs;
  • Help remove barriers to the participation of ACDBEs in airport concession opportunities;
  • Promote the use of ACDBEs in all types of concession activities at airports receiving DOT financial assistance;
  • Assist in the development of firms that can successfully compete in the broader marketplace outside of the ACDBE Program; and
  • Provide appropriate flexibility to airports in establishing and providing ACDBE opportunities.

Eligibility:
To be eligible for certification as an ACDBE, a business must qualify as a small business under the Small Business Administration (SBA) standards and be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged. This includes women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Indigenous/Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and other minorities.

Participation Requirements:
If your annual car rental concession revenues—averaged over the three years preceding the date on which you are required to submit overall goals—do not exceed $200,000, you are not required to submit a car rental overall goal. The same threshold applies for non-car rental concessions.

Types of Concessions:
The ACDBE Program covers a broad range of concession activities at airports, including but not limited to food and beverage, retail, car rentals, advertising, and other passenger services.

Contracting Opportunities:
The ACDBE Program provides certified firms access to valuable contracting opportunities at airports across the United States, enabling small businesses to grow, build capacity, and compete more effectively in both aviation and non-aviation markets.

Authority:

ACDBE Program Documents:

ACDBE Program Flyer:

State of Alaska Airports:

Resources: