DBE Certification and Re-evaluation in West Virginia

What it's for

The West Virginia Unified Certification Program (WV UCP) certifies Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for USDOT-funded highway, transit and airport work in West Virginia. A UCP Committee inside the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT), chaired by the Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) Division, makes certification decisions. Certification lets a firm count toward DBE goals on USDOT-funded contracts. ACDBE (airport concession) certification is not described separately in the materials reviewed.

Where this state stands

• DOT's UCP status page lists West Virginia's re-evaluation as Complete as of Oct 2, 2026.
• WVDOT's re-evaluation presentation set a requested submission date of Monday, Mar 2, 2026. Materials sent by that date got priority. Review was rolling, by district group.
• Firms email their materials to their district DBE Specialist. WVDOT says "Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their submissions by letter and/or email."
• No page limit or narrative template is published. WVDOT asks for "a detailed, written narrative," plus supporting documents for the narrative and the net worth statement.
• 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. If you never responded, contact CRC now.

Have this ready

• Personal Narrative (PN) in the owner's own words.
• Personal Net Worth (PNW) statement on the USDOT form (linked from WVDOT's presentation).
• Supporting documents for both the narrative and the PNW statement.
• New applicants: the Uniform Certification Application (posted on WVDOT's DBE Forms and Links page) and its attachments.

Steps

Already certified (re-evaluation):

1. Find your district DBE Specialist:

• Districts 1, 9, 10: Shelia Young, shelia.s.young@wv.gov, 304-352-6979
• Districts 3, 6, 7: John Handley, john.w.handley@wv.gov, 304-352-5267
• Districts 2, 5, 8: Duane Waller, duane.w.waller@wv.gov, 304-352-3907
• District 4: Dave Merchant, kevin.d.merchant@wv.gov, 304-414-6889

1. Write your own narrative and complete the USDOT PNW form. The UCP decides if you qualify.
2. Email both, with supporting documents, to your specialist. General questions go to dot.eeo@wv.gov.
3. Watch for a letter or email with the outcome.

New applicants:

1. Download the Uniform Certification Application from WVDOT's DBE Forms and Links page (hard copies on request).
2. Include a narrative and PNW statement with supporting documents.
3. Submit to the WVDOT CRC Division and answer any follow-up questions.

After you're certified

• File a new Declaration of Eligibility (DOE) "on the anniversary of the date of the DBE's original certification."
• Report material changes in ownership, control or eligibility "within 30 days of the occurrence of the change," by a sworn, notarized affidavit.
• Interstate: out-of-state firms send a cover letter, a new DOE and proof of listing in their home-state directory. The manual says WV decides within 10 business days of a complete package.

Watch out for

• A firm that is denied must wait 12 months before reapplying, per the WV UCP manual.
• The re-evaluation goes to your district specialist, not a web portal.
• Two Civil Rights phone numbers are published (304-558-3931 and 304-414-6877). Email dot.eeo@wv.gov if one does not answer.
• Help from the UCP is free. WVDOT also lists DBE Supportive Services on its site.

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
• public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-19688.pdf
• webapps.transportation.wv.gov/TWS/CRC/WVDBEReevaluationsPowerpoint.pdf
• webapps.transportation.wv.gov/TWS/CRC/UCPManualRevision6920262PUB.pdf
• transportation.wv.gov/disadvantaged-business-enterprise-program
• transportation.wv.gov/crc/DBE/Pages/DBEFORMSANDLINKS.aspx
• transportation.wv.gov/node/51

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.