DBE Certification and Re-evaluation in Arizona

What it's for

The Arizona Unified Certification Program (AZUCP) certifies DBEs in Arizona. Three agencies certify, based on where the firm is located. The City of Phoenix handles Maricopa County firms and all ACDBE (airport concession) applicants. The City of Tucson handles Pima County firms. ADOT handles firms everywhere else and interstate applicants. DBE certification lets a firm count toward DBE goals on USDOT-funded contracts.

Where this state stands

• DOT's UCP status page lists Arizona's re-evaluation as Complete (page last updated Oct 2, 2026).
• AZUCP set a June 30, 2026 deadline for re-evaluation submissions. ADOT says: "After July 1, 2026 only firms that have been reevaluated and found eligible for continued DBE certification will be listed in the AZTRACS as active DBEs."
• Firms that did not submit were delisted and are not eligible to take part in the DBE program.
• ADOT sent several notices, including a Jan 6, 2026 notice to all DBE/ACDBE firms and a May 15, 2026 "Action Required" notice. Webinars ran in March and June 2026.
• Firms submitted through their certifying agency's portal (Phoenix, Tucson or ADOT).
• Narrative format: AZUCP's June 2026 webinar listed no page limit or template. DOT's FAQ says certifiers "must not enforce page limits, mandate topics, or impose any other limitations" on a narrative.
• DOT says the narrative is "a statement of the owner's own experiences," not a document "to be written by consultants."
• Since July 1, 2026, AZUCP accepts new DBE, ACDBE and interstate applications and annual DOEs again, using the updated USDOT forms.

Have this ready

As listed in AZUCP's June 2026 webinar:

• Personal Narrative (PN) from each owner counted toward the 51% disadvantaged ownership.
• A current Personal Net Worth (PNW) Statement for each such owner.
• Optional: federal business tax returns and other financial documents, uploaded under "Additional Documents."
• New applicants: the full application on the updated USDOT forms, including PN and PNW.

Steps

Already certified (re-evaluation):

1. Search the AZUTRACS directory to see if your firm is listed as active.
2. If you're listed, keep up with annual DOEs (below).
3. If you're not listed, call ADOT at 602.712.7761 or contact your certifying agency (Phoenix, Tucson or ADOT) to ask about your status and options.
4. If you were delisted, you will likely need to apply as a new applicant. The UCP decides.

New applicants:

1. Go to https://utracs.azdot.gov/DBECertification and do an account lookup first.
2. Apply through the right portal: Phoenix (phoenix.gob2g.com), Tucson (tucsonaz.diversitycompliance.com) or ADOT (adotdoors.dbesystem.com).
3. Complete the application, PN and PNW Statement. A Spanish application is available.
4. Answer any follow-up questions quickly.

After you're certified

• Update your certification every year with a Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) through your certifying agency. ADOT points to utracs.azdot.gov/DBECertificationRenewal/.
• Report any material change within 30 days, with a signed DOE (49 CFR 26.83).
• Interstate certification is available through ADOT. See ADOT's Interstate Flyer.
• DBE certification does not prequalify a firm to bid as a prime on ADOT projects. That is separate.

Watch out for

• The June 30, 2026 deadline has passed. Missing it meant delisting.
• Federal deadline: a firm that still hasn't sent its narrative and net worth statement by Mar 24, 2027 gets a Notice of Decision disqualifying it (DOT final-rule FAQ, Q17 and Q22). Don't wait for that date. Ask ADOT how this applies to delisted firms.
• Some UTRACS text still describes the old eligibility basis. Rely on the updated USDOT forms.
• Free help: SBWD Connects offers virtual or in-person assistance. Help from the UCP is free.

What changed nationally, plus DOT's narrative and net worth checklists →

Sources

• www.transportation.gov/UCPstatus
• www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-19688
• www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2026-09/DBE_Final%20Rule_FAQs%2009-28-2026_0.pdf
• www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-26/subpart-E/section-26.83
• azdot.gov/business/small-business-and-workforce-development/dbe-interim-final-r
• azdot.gov/business/small-business-and-workforce-development/business-registrati
• utracs.azdot.gov/DBECertification
• azdot.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/AZUCP%20IFR%20Webinar%20-%206.23.2026.pdf

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with USDOT or any certifying agency, and this isn't legal advice. Your state's UCP decides who qualifies. FindMyBids never writes personal narratives and never asks for your net worth figures.