DBE and ACDBE Programs
On October 03, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued an Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Interim Final Rule (IFR) requiring immediate changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program regulations. The DBE IFR removes race- and sex- based presumptions from the definitions of “socially and economically disadvantaged individual” and instead provides that the owners of a DBE or ACDBE or applicant must demonstrate on a case-by-case basis that the individual is eligible under the new standards established in the IFR (see DBE IFR Guidance.10-03-2025.pdf).
If St. Louis Lambert International Airport Office of Business Opportunities (OBO) is your certifying agency, impacted firms will submit their personal narrative and personal net worth statement to OBO. Please contact OBO at 314.426.8111 for more information.
Personal Narrative Requirement:
Owners must submit a personal narrative establishing the existence of disadvantage by a preponderance of the evidence based on individualized proof regarding specific instances of economic hardship, systemic barriers, and denied opportunities that impeded the owner’s progress or success in education, employment or business, including obtaining financing on terms available to similarly situated, non-disadvantaged persons; state how and to what extent the impediments caused the owner economic harm, including a full description of type and magnitude, and establish the owner is economically disadvantaged in fact relative to similarly situated non-disadvantaged individuals; and state how and to what extent the impediments cause the owner economic harm, including a full description of type and magnitude.
Personal Net Worth Statement (PNW):
Owners must submit a personal net worth statement filled out in its entirety. Per the instructions on the USDOT DBE/ACDBE PNW Statement, owners must provide documents to support each entry. If you have questions about completing the PNW Statement please contact OBO at 314.426.8111.