Tennessee GO-BID Certification, formerly Go-DBE: Status and What to Do

What it is

The Governor's Office of Business Initiatives and Development (GO-BID), in the Department of General Services, is "the State of Tennessee's certification agency" for businesses that want state work. It certifies five types: Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) and Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprise (DSBE). Its stated mission is greater participation by qualified businesses in state contracting. The office was formerly the Governor's Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE); older files on its site still carry that name.

Who qualifies

• All types: independently owned, for-profit, performing a commercially useful function, and in business at least two years. The majority owner must control daily operations.
• SBE: average gross receipts of no more than $10 million over three years, or no more than 99 full-time employees.
• SDVBE: at least 51% owned and controlled by a veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 20%.
• MBE: at least 51% owned and controlled by African American, Hispanic American, Native American or Asian American owners.
• WBE: at least 51% owned and controlled by women.
• DSBE: at least 51% owned and controlled by persons with a qualifying disability who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• You may hold only one status at a time.
• Out-of-state firms: eligible through reciprocity with a home-state certification. GO-BID also lists accepted outside certifications, such as SBA 8(a), Mid-South Certification Agency and WBENC.

What it means for your bids

• You do not need certification to bid on state procurements.
• GO-BID's FAQ says "There is no preference given to one classification over another."
• GO-BID lists "Contractor and sub-contractor opportunities" as a benefit and keeps a public certified vendor directory.
• The GO-BID pages we reached do not describe price preferences, set-asides or participation goals.

How to get certified

1. Register as a supplier in Edison and get your 10-digit Supplier ID. Edison review takes about 7 to 10 business days.
2. Apply online at tn.dbesystem.com (hard copies are not processed). Start here: https://www.tn.gov/generalservices/procurement/central-procurement-office--cpo-/go-bid/go-bid_certification.html
3. Upload your latest federal tax return with all schedules. SBEs add the prior year's return and three recent Form 941s. SDVBEs add a DD-214.
4. Review takes 30 to 45 days after a complete application.
5. Certification lasts three years (DSBE renews every year). You get an email 60 days before it expires. Report ownership, name, contact or location changes within 10 days.
6. Fee: the GO-BID page does not state one.

Watch out for

• Tennessee's Dismantling DEI Departments Act took effect July 1, 2025 (per Action News 5). GO-BID's certification page, last updated September 30, 2025, still lists MBE and WBE. The state has not posted how, or whether, the law affects them. Ask GO-BID before relying on an MBE or WBE status.
• If denied, you must wait three years to reapply. A reconsideration request is due within 10 days.
• Memphis and Shelby County have separate city programs.
• Federal DBE (TDOT highway and transit work) is a separate program.
• Free help: GO-BID Program Director, 615-741-2562, or General.Services@tn.gov.

Programs in other states →

Put Tennessee's certification programs on your website

Free for chambers, associations, APEX Accelerators, SBDCs and anyone else. Paste one line where you want it. It updates itself every day and works on phones.

<script src="https://findmybids.com/embed.js" data-kind="programs" data-state="TN" async></script>

Copy codePreview

Your site doesn't allow scripts? Use this instead

<iframe src="https://findmybids.com/embed/programs?state=TN" title="FindMyBids" loading="lazy" style="width:100%;max-width:720px;height:520px;border:0"></iframe>

Copy code

Add data-theme="dark" for a dark page. A small "from FindMyBids" line stays at the bottom.

Sources

• www.tn.gov/generalservices/procurement/central-procurement-office--cpo-/go-bid/g
• www.tn.gov/generalservices/procurement/central-procurement-office--cpo-/go-bid.h
• www.tn.gov/generalservices/procurement/central-procurement-office--cpo-/go-bid/a
• www.tn.gov/content/tn/generalservices/procurement/central-procurement-office--cp
• www.tn.gov/generalservices/procurement.html
• www.tn.gov/generalservices/procurement/central-procurement-office--cpo-/supplier
• www.actionnews5.com/2025/07/08/state-anti-dei-law-leads-shelby-co-city-memphis-end-minori

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with any certifying agency, and this isn't legal advice. Status can change quickly with court orders and new laws, so confirm with the program office before you rely on it.