Click on the pamphlet below to learn more about the CDBE program!

It is the policy of the City of Columbia that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) shall be afforded the opportunity to participate fully in its overall procurement process.

CDBE Policy, Application Form and Current CDBE & DBE Directories:
Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) Program Guidelines
Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) Resolution
Non Discrimination and Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) Utilization Policy
CDBE Documents (see below for CDBE Important Documents)
CDBE Qualification Statement Form  *Please provide all requested information when submitting your CDBE Qualification Statement form
CDBE Directory – Registered Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (Columbia ONLY)
DBE Directory – Registered Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (Outside of Columbia ONLY)

A Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) is defined as (1) a certified business (2) has had an active office in the Columbia-Orangeburg-Newberry Combined Statistical Area (Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda, or Orangeburg) for one year; and (3) is a socially and/or economically disadvantaged business.

The objectives of the Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) Policy are to: 

(a) Take specific steps to ensure non-discriminatory practices and results in the future; and
(b) Fully involve CDBEs/DBEs in the City’s procurement process

Offerors must identify and select specific work items to be performed by subcontractors in a CDBE project.  Offerors are expected to subdivide total contract work requirements into smaller, economically feasible portions or quantities, to permit maximum active utilization of CDBEs/DBEs.

The CDBE policy applies when the City has placed a CDBE utilization goal on a project.  The offeror must subcontract a percentage of its bid to qualified available CDBE/DBE subcontractors. The goal will be established based upon the identified subcontracting areas and the relative availability of CDBEs/DBEs who will be able to assist the City of Columbia in completion of a specific project.

A good faith effort review will verify that the offeror made CDBE/DBE subcontracting opportunities available to a broad base of qualified CDBE/DBE subcontractors, negotiated in good faith with interested CDBE/DBE subcontractors and did not reject any bid for unlawful discriminatory reasons.

 

CDBE Important Documents
Required CDBE Goal Affidavit Documentation
Required CDBE Goal Affidavit Documentation

Good Faith Efforts Documentation
*If offeror fails to meet at least 50 percent of CDBE goal, offeror is required to send all Good Faith Efforts (GFE) documentation with their CDBE Goal Affidavit during the bid opening.
Required Good Faith Efforts (GFE) Documentation

CDBE Change Order / Amendment Addendum
CDBE Change Order / Contract Amendment Addendum

 

Other Agency S/M/WBE Resources:
SC Office of Small and Minority Business Contracting and Certification
SC Department of Transportation
SC Commission on Minority Affairs

If you have questions that were not answered here, contact the OBO Compliance Team, 1401 Main Street, 4th Floor, Columbia, SC 29201 or call at (803)545-3950.