Should I apply for DBE certification?
You do not have to be DBE-certified to perform work on Pace contracts; however, opportunities may increase if you are certified.
Pace may put a DBE goal on a project that has subcontracting opportunities. When that occurs, a prime contractor must utilize DBE firms certified by one of the IL UCP members to meet those goals.
If your firm is interested in state government work, performs heavy highway/airport-related construction, professional engineering consulting, trucking, manufacturing/fabricating and construction material supply services, and meets the eligibility criteria in 49 CFR Part 26, Subpart D, then you should apply for Pace DBE certification.