FAQ

Who is eligible to participate as a Woman or Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (W/MBE) on Authority-funded contracts?

A business certified as a W/MBE by Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, State of Florida Department of Management Services Office of Supplier Diversity or certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with the Florida Unified Certification Program will be eligible to participate.

What are the W/MBE Listing Websites?

Please visit our Links Page for a list of sites.

How do I become certified as a W/MBE?

By contacting Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, or the State of Florida Department of Management Services Office of Supplier Diversity at the websites listed in number 2 above.

If I am currently certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), do I have to become W/MBE certified?

No. If you are currently certified as a DBE through the Florida Unified Certification Program pursuant to 49 CFR Part 26, you will be eligible to participate on Authority contracts as a W/MBE.

Does my W/MBE certification expire or will I have to renew my certification annually?

All certifications have an expiration date. You will need to contact the certifying agency that issued your W/MBE certification for information regarding the renewal timeframe. The Authority will only accept current certifications. It is the W/MBE’s responsibility to ensure renewals are completed timely and do not lapse.

Who do I contact if I have a question about the Authority’s DBE and W/MBE program?

  1. Questions concerning the Authority’s DBE or W/MBE programs should be directed to The Authority’s DBE Program Office at (813) 870-8738.
  2. Questions concerning W/MBE requirements for this project can be directed to Charlotte Thomas or Carolyn Seals of ARIEL Business Group, Inc. at (813) 207- 0003.