The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Interim Final Rule (IFR) has created months of uncertainty for contractors, agencies, and certified firms trying to understand what comes next for the DBE program and goals on federally funded projects. In California, at least one piece of that uncertainty now has a date attached to it.

On March 2, 2026, Caltrans and its California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) partners began the statewide reevaluation process for all Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) firms. Caltrans set a deadline of April 16, 2026 to submit the materials required for reevaluation: a Personal Narrative, a Personal Net Worth statement, and supporting documentation.