Starting January 1, 2025, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will be operating under new federal guidelines that significantly change the way Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) participation credit is calculated, particularly for suppliers, distributors, and brokers. This follows a revision in federal regulations that affect the 'regular dealer' and introduces a 'distributor' category.

In anticipation of these updates, MnDOT is hosting training sessions to help interested parties understand the new protocols for applying for DBE participation credit and become familiar with the updates to the DBE special provisions. In a bulletin shared via the government delivery service, details surrounding the calculation of DBE participation credits and procedures for both existing and new distribution categories were outlined.

The sessions are slated to cover an array of instructional content including how DBE participation credit is computed for various types of businesses, a review of the revised Exhibit A form, and an introduction to the new United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) regular dealer affirmation form. The goal is to ensure compliance with the updated regulations as set forth in 49 CFR 26.55(e). Additionally, these open sessions will discuss the implications of the updated DBE special provisions.

Two open sessions have been scheduled to disseminate this information. The first will take place on Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., and participants can join the Dec. 5 open training session via Microsoft Teams. The second is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, between 3:00 and 4:30 p.m., also accessible through Microsoft Teams. The urgency in these preparatory sessions is evident, signaling MnDOT's commitment to a seamless transition into the updated DBE credit system.