DBE Certification and Re-evaluation in New Mexico

What it's for

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Construction and Civil Rights Bureau certifies Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in New Mexico. NMDOT says the program supports "equal opportunity in the award of US DOT-assisted contracts for highway, transit, and airport projects." DBE certification lets a firm count toward DBE goals on those contracts. Other certifying members and ACDBE (airport concession) handling are not described on the pages reviewed.

Where this state stands

• DOT's UCP status page lists New Mexico's re-evaluation as In progress (page last updated Oct 2, 2026).
• NMDOT says it is accepting re-evaluation applications from previously certified firms. No deadline or notice date is published.
• NMDOT says: "Only firms that complete reevaluation will be reactivated in B2Gnow and appear again on the NMDOT DBE Directory." An earlier NMDOT post (Jan 28, 2026) said certifications "remain active" while firms prepare. Ask NMDOT for your firm's current status.
• NMDOT paused DBE participation tracking during the transition, per the Jan 28, 2026 post.
• Narrative format: NMDOT has not published a template, page limit or format rule. DOT says the PN is the owner's own statement, not something for consultants to write.
• Federal rule: UCPs must finish by Dec 24, 2026 (one 3-month extension possible). Firms that don't respond get a final notice by Mar 24, 2027, then 90 days before disqualification.

Have this ready

For re-evaluation, NMDOT asks for:

• Personal narrative (PN).
• Personal Net Worth (PNW) statement.
• Required personal and business tax documents (years not stated).

NMDOT's Jan 2026 post also told firms to prepare current ownership, control and independence records and to update their contact information with NMDOT.

Steps

Already certified (re-evaluation):

1. Make sure NMDOT has your current email and phone. Email DBE.CERT@dot.nm.gov if they changed.
2. Confirm with NMDOT how to submit. B2Gnow (http://nmdot.dbesystem.com/) is NMDOT's certification system, but the page does not spell out the upload steps.
3. Submit your re-evaluation with your PN, PNW statement and tax documents.
4. Answer any follow-up requests.
5. The UCP decides. Once approved, your firm is reactivated in B2Gnow and listed in the directory again.

New applicants:

1. NMDOT said it would not accept new DBE applications until May 1, 2026. Before applying, call 505-795-4922 or email DBE.CERT@dot.nm.gov to confirm new applications are open.
2. Apply through B2Gnow at http://nmdot.dbesystem.com/ with a PN, PNW statement and supporting documents.

After you're certified

• Federal rules require a new Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) each year on your certification anniversary, with your latest gross receipts (49 CFR 26.83). NMDOT's own steps are not published on the pages reviewed.
• Report changes to the NMDOT DBE Office.
• Interstate: "Interstate applications must be submitted as interstate applications—not as reevaluations." NMDOT's Jan 2026 post said interstate applications were paused; confirm current status with NMDOT.

Watch out for

• If you don't complete re-evaluation, your firm is not reactivated or listed in the directory.
• Don't file an interstate request as a re-evaluation; it follows a separate process.
• NMDOT notes its DBE Program Manual revision is in progress and it has posted an IFR Addendum.
• Help from the UCP is free. You do not need to pay anyone to apply or to write your narrative.

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

Sources

• 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.dot.nm.gov/highway-operations-program/operations-support-division-director/const
• www.dot.nm.gov/highway-operations-program/operations-support-division-director/const
• www.dot.nm.gov/?p=35429

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.