Certification Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Penn DOT)
Bureau of Equal Opportunity
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Division
Commonwealth Keystone Bldg.
400 N. Street
5M West
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Tel: (800) 468-4201
Fax: (717) 772-4026
Contact: Jocelyn Harper
email: jharper@pennDOT.state.pa.us
Penn DOT only certifies construction companies or construction-related consultants. To work on Penn DOT projects a firm must be certified as a DBE by Penn DOT.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
DBE Program Office
1234 Market Street, 11th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3780
Tel: (215) 580-7275, (215) 580-3710
Fax: (215) 580-7261
Contact: Mary Connell
website: www.septa.org
Before SEPTA begins the certification process for a company, the business owner must complete an affidavit. To do business with SEPTA, it is recommended that the firm be certified by SEPTA. However, SEPTA will accept certifications from other agencies. An initial certification performed by SEPTA is good for three years. If, however, the company is certified by another agency, SEPTA will treat the company as being certified only for the period that its certification with the other agency is valid.
Bureau of Contract Administration & Business Development, Department of General Services
Bureau of Contract Administration, Department of General Services Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
502 North Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17125
Contact: Certification Unit
website: www.dgs.state.pa.us
Department of General Services certifies those firms that may not be construction - related, and thus not certified by Penn DOT. To do work with this agency or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a firm must be certified by either the Department of General Services, Penn DOT, or other agency within the Commonwealth.
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJ DOT)
Division of Civil Rights
1035 Parkway Avenue
P.O. Box 600
Trenton, NJ 08625-0600
Tel: (609) 530-3882
Fax: (609) 530-4030
Contact: Lydia Harper
email: lydia.harper@DOT.state.nj.us
NJ DOT does not certify every firm as an MBE/WBE/DBE. There is a certain eligibility requirement that a firm must meet in order to be certified as an MBE/WBE/DBE. To do business on NJ DOT projects, a firm must be certified by NJ DOT.
New Jersey Transit
One Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ 07105-2246
Tel: (973) 491-7000
Fax: (973) 491-4011
Contact: Ernest Williams
email: chrmecw@njtransit.state.nj.us
NJ Transit has an application procedure that follows the guidelines of the federal government's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. In order to be certified as a DBE/MBE/WBE, a company must meet the stringent DBE review standards. To do business with NJ Transit under their Special Preference Program, a firm must be certified by NJ Transit. To bid as a prime, however, a firm need not be certified by the agency, but NJ Transit will make an effort to get the firm certified.
State of New Jersey
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
Division of Development for Small Business and Women and Minority Business
33 W. State Street
P.O. Box 26
Trenton, NJ 08646
Tel: (609) 292-2146
Fax: (609) 292-9145
Contact: Duane Floyd, Supervisor
website: http://www.nj.gov/njbusiness/contracting/
This agency generally certifies all firms that come in as an MBE or WBE. The major factors it considers are whether the business is independently owned and operated; whether a minority or woman owns 51% of the company, whether the minority has long term control of the business; and whether the minority or woman owner has control of the day-to-day operations. Generally, to do business with the State of New Jersey, the firm must be certified by it. However, the State of New Jersey will accept M/WBE certifications from NJ Transit and the Port Authority of NY and NJ.
The City of Camden
Affirmative Action Office
City of Camden
c/o Office of City Attorney
13th Floor, City Hall Bldg.
P.O. Box 95120
Camden, NJ 08101
This office certifies all minorities and/or women who qualify as MBEs or WBEs. To participate in the City's open competitive bid process, a MBE or WBE does not have to be certified by the City of Camden.
Delaware Department of Transportation (Del DOT)
800 Bay Road
P.O. Box 778
Dover, DE 19903
Tel: (302) 760-2627
Fax: (302) 739-2254
Contact: Amy Miller
website: www.delDOT.net
Del DOT only certifies DBE firms, however they have a registry for contractors, consultants & vendors. Contact Lawrence C. Smith for information on how to register or how to become certified in the state of Delaware.
Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
Women's Business Development Center (WBDC)
Women Owned Small Business (WOSB)
(Agency only certifies WBEs)
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 1116
Philadelphia, PA 19107-4711
Tel: (215) 790-9232
Fax: (215) 790-9231
Contact: Geri Swift, President
email: certification@WBEcouncil.org
The WBDC is a certifying partner for the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC is a non-profit organization committed to educating the public, government, and corporations about the products and services available from companies owned, managed, and controlled by women. WBENC provides a national certification standard and an Internet accessible database of certified WBEs.
Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council of PA-NJ-DE (EMSDC)
MSDC Certification
(Agency only certifies MBEs)
225 South 15th Street, Suite 401
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: (215) 569-1005
Fax: (215) 569-2667
Contact: Valarie Cofield, President
Website: http://www.emsdc.org
The EMSDC of PA-NJ-DE facilitates MBE purchasing opportunities with the private sector, provides education and training in business management and planning and disseminates information regarding contract opportunities. MBEs receive certification through the nationally recognized program of the Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC). Under the NMSDC umbrella, MBEs qualify for reciprocal certification with the over 40 regional councils throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Allegheny County Office of Minority/Woman/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
204 County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Tel: (412) 350-4309
Contact: Ruth Byrd-Smith, Director
Website: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/mwdbe
Port Authority of Allegheny County Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Division
345 6th Avenue, 3rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527
Tel: (412) 566-5257
Contact: Edward Greene
Commerce Department City of Philadelphia
1515 Arch Street, 12 Fl.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: (215) 683-2000
Fax: (215) 683-2097
Website: http://www.phila.gov/commerce
Empire State of Development
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 803-2414
Fax: (212) 803-3223
Email: MWBEcertification@esd.ny.gov
Website: http://ny.newnycontracts.com
Firms seeking certification should go to the NYS Contract System and click “Learn about Certification” for information regarding the NYS M/WBE Certification process.
Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations Corporation Bureau
Corporation Bureau
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722
Tel: (717) 787-1057 Option 3
Website: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/corporations/12457