Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

General Information

The City of Albuquerque – Transit Department (ABQ RIDE) has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26 and, accordingly, establishes annual DBE participation goals.  ABQ RIDE has received Federal financial assistance from the Department of Transportation, and as a condition of receiving this assistance, ABQ RIDE has signed an assurance that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26.

It is the policy of ABQ RIDE to ensure that DBEs, as defined in Part 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in USDOT–assisted contracts.  Specifically, it is also our policy:

1. To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts;
2. To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted contracts;
3. To ensure that the DBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law;
4. To ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR Part 26 eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBEs;
5. To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts;
6. To assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the DBE Program; and
7. To promote the use of DBEs in all types of federally-assisted contracts and procurement activities.

ABQ RIDE has put in place a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Manual to describe the program, objectives, administrative requirements, goals, certification process, and compliance and enforcement. ABQ RIDE has established a goal of 4.5% of all federal contract spending to go to DBEs for the Federal Fiscal Years 2023 through 2025 beginning October 1, 2022 and ending on September 30, 2025.

• Policy Statement
• DBE Program Manual
• ABQ Ride Org Chart
• DBE Goal for Federal Fiscal Year 2020-2022
• DBE Goal for Federal Fiscal Year 2023-2025
• NMDOT Application and Certification
• 49 CFR 26 – Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in DOT Financial Assistance Programs

The ABQ RIDE Principal Planner has been designated as the DBE Liaison Officer. In that capacity, the ABQ RIDE Principal Planner is responsible for implementing all aspects of the DBE program.  Implementation of the DBE program is accorded the same priority as compliance with all other legal obligations incurred by ABQ RIDE in its financial assistance agreements with the Department of Transportation.

For more information on ABQ RIDE’s DBE program, please contact us at:

Attn: Andrew de Garmo, DBE Coordinator
ABQ RIDE / City of Albuquerque
100 First SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-724-3100
[email protected]

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Goal FY23 to FY25

The City of Albuquerque Transit Department (ABQ RIDE) has submitted to FTA our three-year goal for the period from Fiscal Year 2023 through 2025 (contracts awarded from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2025). The DBE participation goal is 4.5%.

This proposed goal and rationale are available for inspection during normal business hours at the principal office of ABQ RIDE, 100 1st Street SW or online.

• ​Watch a presentation of the DBE Goal Setting Consultation
• Download the DRAFT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Goal: Fiscal Year 2023 through 2025.