DBE Certification and Re-evaluation in Michigan

What it's for

The Michigan Unified Certification Program (MUCP) certifies Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for the 33 USDOT-funded agencies in Michigan. The certifying agencies named on the MUCP site are the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Detroit Department of Transportation and the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA). DBE certification lets a firm count toward DBE goals on USDOT-funded contracts. MUCP also handles ACDBE (airport concession) certification, which goes through WCAA.

Where this state stands

• DOT's UCP status page lists Michigan's re-evaluation as Complete (page last updated Oct 2, 2026).
• The MDOT and MUCP pages reviewed do not publish Michigan-specific notice dates, a narrative template, page limits or upload instructions. If you were certified before the rule change and have not heard from MDOT, contact MDOT directly (below).
• Under the federal final rule (effective Sep 25, 2026), every DBE must show disadvantage with a personal narrative (PN) and a personal net worth (PNW) statement. DOT says the PN is "a statement of the owner's own experiences, not a technical or legally complex document to be written by consultants or legal experts."
• 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.

Have this ready

The Michigan pages reviewed do not list required documents. Based on the federal rule:

• Personal narrative (PN) written by the disadvantaged owner, describing their own experiences.
• Personal net worth (PNW) statement on the DOT form.
• The certification application and supporting documents the system asks for. MUCP's Forms page notes some forms must be signed, notarized and dated.
• A MILogin for Third Party account to use the online system.

Steps

Already certified (re-evaluation):

1. Check your email and your MUCP account for any message from MDOT or your certifying agency.
2. If MDOT asked you for a PN and PNW and you have not sent them, contact MDOT at MDOT-DBEapplications@michigan.gov or 517-335-1708 to confirm what is still open.
3. Submit only what the UCP asks for, by the date it gives you.
4. The UCP decides. Keep copies of everything you send.

New applicants:

1. Read the eligibility requirements: https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MUCPWeb/eligibilityRequirements.htm
2. Create a MILogin for Third Party account.
3. In MILogin, choose "Request Access" and search for the "MUCP" application.
4. Complete the DBE Certification Application at https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MUCPWeb/applyDBECertification.htm. You have 60 days from when you start.
5. Applying with Detroit DOT or WCAA instead of MDOT? Contact that agency directly for its process. ACDBE applicants apply through WCAA.

After you're certified

• Federal rules require a new Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) every year on your certification anniversary, with your latest gross receipts (49 CFR 26.83). The MUCP site has an "Annual DBE Update" function; Michigan's exact steps are not published on the pages reviewed.
• MUCP DBE/ACDBE firms are also eligible for MDOT Small Business Program (SBP) contracts, per the MUCP site.
• Interstate certification: not addressed on the Michigan pages reviewed.

Watch out for

• The online application is deleted if not finished within 60 days of starting it.
• ACDBE applications go to Wayne County Airport Authority, not MDOT.
• Missing a re-evaluation or annual update request can be treated as a failure to cooperate and can lead to removal.
• MDOT's Office of Business Development posts a training calendar on the MDOT DBE page.
• Help from the UCP is free. You do not need to pay a consultant to apply or to write your narrative.

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

Sources

• www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2026-09/DBE_Final%20Rule_FAQs%2009-28-2026_0.pdf
• www.transportation.gov/UCPstatus
• www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-19688
• www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-26/subpart-E/section-26.83
• www.michigan.gov/mdot/programs/dbe
• mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MUCPWeb/welcome.htm
• mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MUCPWeb/home.htm
• mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MUCPWeb/eligibilityRequirements.htm
• mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MUCPWeb/applyDBECertification.htm

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.