Business Diversity Development Program

Business Diversity Development Department

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) is committed to creating opportunities for disadvantaged and small business enterprises to compete for contracts to achieve economic success and contribute to the Airport Authority’s overall mission of growth in the Mid-South region.

The airport has a large, dynamic, and efficient operation that depends on working with ready, willing, and able contractors and entrepreneurs. MSCAA’s commitment to increase opportunity for small and disadvantaged business participation and to assist in the development of certified firms to compete successfully within our economic inclusion programs are in accordance with applicable laws.

The Business Diversity Development Department is responsible for monitoring disadvantaged and small business enterprise program project goals from pre-award to completion, ensuring that all contract goals and compliance requirements are met. This includes reviewing the goal for contract awards, monitoring monthly payments, performing commercially useful function reviews, resolving conflicts and complaints, and reviewing project files upon completion for compliance with applicable program requirements.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

The DBE Program, pursuant to 49 CFR Part 26, includes contracts for construction, professional services, and procurement, which are funded in whole or in part by federal dollars from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program

The ACDBE Program, pursuant to 49 CFR Part 23, includes certain concessions operations at the airport.

Small Business Participation Program (SBPP)

The Small Business Participation Program (SBPP), pursuant to 49 CFR Part 26 Section 26.39, is open to all business owners regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. The SBPP applies to MSCAA contracts regardless of funding source (federal/non-federal).

Business Diversity Development Program (BDDP)

The BDDP encourages disadvantaged, minority, and women owned enterprises to participate in requests for bids. The BDDP applies to MSCAA contracts funded by non-federal dollars.

Certifications

Small and Disadvantaged Business owners are encouraged to complete the SBE/DBE/ACDBE certification process. Certification determines whether individuals and firms have sufficiently demonstrated eligibility, ownership, control, and social economic disadvantage. All businesses seeking to do business with the Airport as an SBE/DBE/ACDBE must be certified. MSCAA performs the certification evaluation of prospective DBEs. Each business wishing to participate as a SBE or DBE must be certified through MSCAA or the Tennessee Uniform Certification Program (TNUCP) at the time of bid/proposal submission.

To be eligible for certifications, a business must be for-profit, have at least 51% ownership by a U.S. citizen or lawfully permanent resident of the U.S. who is socially and/or economically disadvantaged, meet the size criteria defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA): www.sba.gov/content/table-small-business-size-standards, and must not exceed both the personal net worth cap and annual gross receipts cap in the previous three fiscal years.

The certification process itself requires a thorough investigation of a company’s operations including, but not limited to financial statements; by-laws; charter; stock certificates; lease agreements; salaries of owners; number of employees; licenses/authorities; etc. Each applicant is required to undergo a personal interview with a member of the BDD staff during a site visit. MSCAA publishes a directory of all certified DBEs and makes it available to all prime and sub-contractors. The certification process can take up to 30 days.

If your firm is seeking certification with MSCAA and would like to complete a certification application, access B2GNow by clicking here and finding the Vendor Certification section. Click on the Apply For/Renew Certification button.

Tennessee Unified Certification Program (TNUCP)

In order to comply with regulatory mandates, MSCAA has collectively joined with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop and implement uniform procedures for certification. This program eliminates the necessity for disadvantaged and small business enterprise firms to complete multiple applications, as certification decisions are reciprocally accepted throughout the UCP membership in Tennessee.

For further information on the UCP, please go to: https://www.tdot.tn.gov/APPLICATIONS/DBEDirect/Search

Questions

The current DBE Liaison Officer is ReGina Armstrong, Senior Manager, of Business Diversity Development. If you have any questions, please contact the Business Diversity Development Office at (901) 922-0255 or email us.

BDD Program Plans

Past Years’ DBE & ACDBE Goals & Methodology

Annual Reports

Additional Resources

View MEM Org Chart here.
View MSCAA ADA Policies & Compliance here.
For a listing of TNUCP click here.
Follow this link for more information on Non-Discrimination in Federally Assisted Programs.