Certification Overview

Go-DBE Main Page
Go-DBE Main Page

Certification Overview

Minority Business Enterprise, Women Business Enterprise, Disabled Business Enterprise, Service-Disabled Veteran owned and Small Business Enterprises

In general, to be eligible for the State of Tennessee’s Diversity Business Enterprise program and be certified as Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), Persons with Disabilities (DSBE), Service-Disabled Veteran (SDVBE) or Small Business Enterprise (SBE), persons must be a U.S. Citizen and resident in the State of Tennessee. Out-of-state firms may receive certification through reciprocity from their home state.

Eligible businesses seeking certification as a Minority Business Enterprise, Woman Business Enterprise, Persons with Disabilities or a Service-disabled Veteran owned business must be independently owned and operated and must also prove that at least 51% of the business is owned and controlled by a minority, a person of female gender, a disabled individual or service-disabled owned veteran within the meaning of T.C.A. 3, 4, 5, 7 , 8, 9, 11 and related guidelines.

Applicants seeking certification as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) must meet with the eligibility guidelines for a small business as established Senate Bill 170 which states in paragraph 12-3-1102 (5) Small Business means “a business that is a continuing, independent, for profit business which performs a commercially useful function with residence in this state and has total gross receipts of no more than ten million dollars ($10,000,000) averaged over a three-year period or employs no more than ninety-nine (99) persons on a full-time basis.”

All applications must be properly entered into the electronic Tennessee Go-DBE System. This office is unable to accept hard copy applications and/or documents as a proper format for registration.

The Go-DBE processing time for certification is 30 - 45 days or less. This standard processing time is based upon the receipt of a completed registration application including all required supporting documentation in the electronic TN Go-DBE diversity software system.

Eligibility Guidelines (in general):

  • Burden of Proof Allocation - Applicants carry the burden of proof regarding their eligibility to meet program eligibility and guidelines.
  • Change in Ownership - firms that are certified with the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise must notify Go-DBE within 10 days of the date of a change in ownership, company name, contact information and or location information. A new registration application will be required in order to make changes to critical certification information. Additional information may be requested on a case by case basis. Certified businesses will be notified electronically by our office of how the change affects the status of their certification. Firms that fail to notify Go-DBE office of pertinent changes in ownership information may be removed from Go-DBE Directory of certified businesses.
  • Change in products or services offered - Effective April 1, 2016 the State of Tennessee’s Enterprise Resource System (Edison) implemented Upgrade 9.2. As a result the State moved from NIGP codes to United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) for products and services use coding. Firms that desire to add/delete or change their UNSPSC codes for product or services initially registered for are required to update their Edison profile as well as to complete a change request in the TN diversity software system.
  • Control - An owner seeking certification must demonstrate "real and substantial" control of the daily operation of the business. An overall understanding of managerial and technical and financial competencies and experience directly related to the type of business in which the firm is engaged must be demonstrated by the majority owner. All documentation submitted must support the diversity member’s ability to control of the daily operation of the business. Applicants may only apply for one (1) diversity status during their entire certification period with the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise.

    Applicants seeking certification for more than one company may be reviewed and considered by the Go-DBE office on a case by case basis.
  • Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) - a member of the following minority group of persons: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans.
  • Service-Disabled Veteran owned Business Enterprise (SDVBE) - Tennessee Service Disabled Veteran mean any person who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States with at least a twenty percent (20%) disability that is service-connected, meaning that such disability was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval or air service.
  • Businesses owned by persons with Disabilities (DSBE) – ”Business owned by persons with disabilities" means a business owned by a person with a disability that is a continuing, independent, for-profit business that performs a commercially useful function, and is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one (1) or more persons with a disability; or, in the case of any publicly-owned business, at least fifty one percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned and controlled by one (1) or more persons with a disability and whose management and daily business operations are under the control of one (1) or more persons with a disability;

         "Person with a disability" means an individual who meets at least one (1) of the following:
         (A) Has been diagnosed as having a physical or mental disability resulting in marked and severe functional limitations that is expected to last no less than twelve (12) months;
         (B) Is eligible to receive social security disability insurance (SSDI); or
         (C) Is eligible to receive supplemental security income (SSI) and has a disability as defined in subdivision (A).
  • Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) – of female gender, may be non-minority or of the following ethnic group of persons: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans.
  • Ownership – Form minority, women and service-disable veterans, your business must be at least 51% owned and controlled in the day to day operation of the business by an ethnic minority, a person of female gender, or a service-disabled veteran.

Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise

Eligibility Guidelines (in general):

  • Business should be independently owned and operated. 
  • Must be a for-profit business which serves a commercially useful function.
  • Business must be in business for a minimum of two (2) years in order to qualify for certification.
  • Applicants must submit a signed copy by majority owner of the most recent federal Tax Return by majority owner (including all schedules) in order to verify ownership and control.
  • Business must be a residence in the State of Tennessee and the business must be located within Tennessee borders.

Service-Disabled Veteran owned Business Enterprise (SDVBE)

Eligibility Guidelines (in general):

Tennessee Service-Disabled Veteran means a service-disabled veteran owned business that is a continuing, independent, for profit business located in the state of Tennessee that performs a commercially useful function and:

  1. Is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one (1) or more service-disabled veterans;
  2. In the case of a business solely owned by one (1) service-disabled veteran and such person’s spouse, is at least fifty percent (50%) owned and controlled by the service-disabled veteran; or
  3. In the case of any publicly owned business, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned and controlled by one (1) or more service disabled veterans and whose management and daily business operations are under the control of one (1) or more service-disabled veterans.
  • Business should be independently owned and operated. 
  • Must be a for-profit business which serves a commercially useful function.
  • Applicants must submit a signed copy of the most recent federal Tax Return (including all schedules) in order to verify ownership and control.
  • Owner must present copy of their Department of Defense (DD) Form 214
  • Owner must present copy of Adjudication letter from the Veterans Administration
  • Business must be located in the state of Tennessee

Small Business Enterprise (SBE)

Eligibility Guidelines (in general):

  • Business should be independently owned and operated. 
  • Must meet annual sales volume OR the number of employees according to T.C.A. 12-3-1102(9).
  • Must be a for-profit business and serve a commercially useful function.
  • Must be a state of Tennessee residence in order to qualify for the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) status.  Out of state firms may be granted reciprocity with an existing certification from their home state.

  • Visit the GoDBE Program Eligibility page and click on “Small Business Guidelines”.

  • New applicants must submit sufficient copies of previous owners most recent federal Tax return (including all schedules) in order to prove they meet the eligibility guidelines for meeting annual sales volume.
  • Copies of three (3) most recent Employer’s Quarterly Statement Form 941 form adopted by the Internal Revenue Service for the verifying of the number of employees.

Additional Requirements

On Site Visits and Questionnaire:

The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise performs on-site visits of firms registering for certification. A Diversity Business Liaison will request an appointment at an agreed upon time to meet with business owners. Diversity firms seeking certification will be required to interview with the Diversity Business Liaison for completion of the On-site visit questionnaire. Additional documentation may be requested during the on-site visit in order to properly assess’ ownership and control of the day to day operation of the business.

All applicants must be U.S. Citizens or a Permanent Resident Alien and must reside in the state of Tennessee. Out-of-State persons seeking certification with Go-DBE must possess an existing certification from their home state of residence and submit evidence of their existing certification at the time of registration. A copy of the most recent tax return along with copies of identification is also required for out of state firms.

The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise is unable to certify out of state firms that do not have an existing certification.

Electronic Notification of Certificate of Certification

Firms that complete the certification process and have met with the program guidelines will receive an electronic notification of their certificate of certification. The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise will no longer mail hard copy certifications.

Letter notices of certification are no longer issued by the Go-DBE office. Certifications are valid for a period of three years expiring on the date of certification. It is the responsibility of each business owner to maintain an active certification status with the Go-DBE office through the certification period. By accepting the certification from the Go-DBE office, business owners agree to provide any and all information and/or documentation to the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise upon request.

Certification Renewal

Certification with the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise is valid for a period of three (3) years from the date as shown on the original certification letter. A completed and signed electronic Affidavit of No Change is required for renewal of each certification as minority owned, woman owned, service-disabled veteran owned and small business enterprises. The following additional requirements must also be provided depending on diversity status:

  • All Businesses – must provide complete copies of their most recent Tax Return.  In order to prove eligibility of the new guidelines taken effect April 2012, all certified firms that desire certification renewal must provide a sufficient number of prior tax return in  order to prove that they meet with eligibility guidelines. 
  • Failure to provide ALL of the requested documentation may result in denial of applicant request for certification and/or renewal of certification.
  • Small Businesses applicants must provide copies of their prior tax return and three (3) most recent copies of their Employer Quarterly Statements Form 941(s) to verify that the guidelines for annual sales volume or the maximum number of employees are being met.
  • All Out of State Firms – must provide a copy of current certification from their home state at the time of renewal.
  • Firms that provided an existing certification from an approved certification agency must provide a copy of their current certification with same or similar certification agency at    the time of renewal of their certification with Go-DBE.
  • Firms with an active certification will receive electronic e-mail notification sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of their current certification.
  • The electronic notification of renewal will advise the firm of their username and password in order to access the TN Go-DBE software system for renewal.
  • Firms that have allowed their certification to expire must complete a new certification registration application in order to renew their certification with Go-DBE.

Reciprocity

The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise may accept certifications from the U.S. Small Business Administration (8a) Program, Minority Purchasing Councils, and Airport Authorities, state Department of Transportation, Metro Transit Authorities or other Uniform Certification Agencies, Mid-South Certification Agency, National Women Business Enterprise Council, National Minority Certification Association and local chapters and other State certification programs. The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise reserves its right to deny certification to any applicant not meeting guidelines according to T.C.A. §12-3-1101 through 1107, 12-3-401(b), 12-3-503 (c), 12-3-514(g) and Public Chapter 485.

Reconsideration

Firms that are denied certification by Go-DBE may reapply for certification in three (3) years from the date of denial. If an application for certification is denied, applicants who wish to file for reconsideration must forward a letter by email through the TN Diversity software system to the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise, to the attention of the Diversity Business Liaison who performed the assessment or on-site visit within 10 days from the date of denial to request reconsideration.

An appeal must at a minimum be in writing, submitted in the electronic TN Go-DBE Software system and include any additional documentation to prove ownership and control along with factual information to support why the decision to deny certification should be reversed. Documents that have been changed or altered after a decision to deny certification has been rendered will not be considered during the appeal period.

Copies of the denial letter and all additional information believed to be pertinent to the appeal that was not present at the time of review or on-site visit will be considered. Firms must provide the name and address of any certification agency that it is currently certified or the agency that has rejected its application for certification or removed the firm's eligibility within one year prior to the date of the appeal. All documents shall be forwarded to the attention of assigned Diversity Business Liaison assigned at the time of registration. All additional documentation must be provided electronically to the attention of the assigned Diversity Business Liaison.