Understanding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s DBE Program
Webinar | 09.20.23, 1:00 PM EDT - 2:00 PM EDT | CLE Offered
Address
Virtual
With historic levels of federal funding set to flow to state and local projects aimed at improving the nation’s roads, airports, railroads, and other transportations systems, it has never been more important for contractors to understand the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
The injection of federal dollars into infrastructure projects through the Investment and Jobs Act and other federal laws has created enormous opportunities for both prime contractors and DBE-certified firms, but the acceptance of these federal funds also comes with significant risks if companies fail to comply with DBE requirements. In this webinar, Crowell & Moring attorneys will discuss the following topics:
- Current requirements of the DOT DBE program, including but not limited to how these requirements are applied at the state level, the requirements for a contractor to be certified as a DBE, how to perform a commercially useful function, how to satisfy the good faith efforts requirement, and how the requirements impact large government contractors who respond to a solicitation or perform a contract with a DBE goal,
- Potential changes to the program as reflected in DOT’s 2022 notice of proposed rulemaking that would “strengthen implementation” of the DBE program,
- Common pitfalls, how the DBE requirements are enforced by federal and state regulators, and False Claims Act suits, and
- Best practices to mitigate risks.
For questions about this program, contact Ngar Eldredge at neldredge@crowell.com.
For more information, please visit these areas: Government Contracts
Participants
Insights
Webinar | 10.16.25
The landscape of AI governance and regulation is shifting. Following the release of the White House’s “America’s AI Action Plan” in July 2025 and the President’s signing of related Executive Orders, the White House has emphasized (at least rhetorically) a preference for innovation, adoption, and deregulation. But that does not tell the entire story. The Administration remains committed to exercising a heavy hand in AI, including by banning the U.S. government’s procurement of so-called “woke AI,” intervening in the development of data centers and the export of the AI technology stack, imposing an export fee for certain semiconductors to China, and assuming a stake in a U.S. semiconductor company. State legislatures are also racing to implement their own regulations, particularly around AI’s use in critical areas, such as healthcare, labor and employment, and data privacy. The many sources of regulation raise the specter of a fragmented compliance environment for businesses. This webinar will delve into the Administration’s AI strategy, going beyond the headlines to analyze:
Webinar | 10.08.25
Webinar | 09.29.25
False Claims Act and Customs Enforcement—What You Need to Know
Webinar | 09.25.25