DSD Program

Established in 1989 by Board Resolution, DSD’s mission is to promote and ensure regional economic development through the maximum utilization of small, local, minority and women-owned businesses in Airports Authority contracting opportunities.

DSD provides certification for the Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) programs.

DSD conducts compliance activities to ensure meaningful participation by small businesses in the Authority’s procurement opportunities. Such activities include establishing contractual participation requirements and conducting pre-award and post award compliance reviews.

DSD utilizes a Supplier Diversity Management System (SDMS) to manage its programs. Contractors must utilize the SDMS for certification, training and compliance activities.

The SDMS, which includes a database of certified firms, may be accessed at: https://mwaa.diversitycompliance.com

DSD Programs

Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) Program

An SLBE is defined as a small business concern that is organized for profit and is located within a 100-mile radius of the District of Columbia's zero-mile marker. A small business is defined, for SLBE purposes, as a firm that is not dominant in its field, and that meets the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) small business size standards for the goods or services it will be providing in a specific solicitation.

As a result of an agreement between the Airports Authority and the Mayor of the District of Columbia’s administration, D.C. Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) firms may utilize a streamlined SLBE/CBE application to certify as an SLBE.

Note:  In accordance with Board Resolution 22-34, effective January 1, 2023, the Local Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (LDBE) program was renamed the Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) program. This is a change in name only. Eligibility requirements, contractual participation requirements, and all other aspects of the program will remain the same. All firms actively certified as LDBEs became SLBEs on January 1, 2023, with no action required by the small local businesses. 

Federally Funded Programs

The U.S. Department of Transportation has adopted regulations in 49 CFR Parts 23 and 26, as amended, which implement a DBE program, including ACDBEs.

The Airports Authority has adopted a policy to fully implement the federal DBE program and to encourage the participation of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in federally funded Authority contracts and in other contracts subject to the federal DBE program.

Firms interested in Airports Authority DBE contract opportunities may apply for certification to either of the two entities in the Virginia Unified Certification Program (UCP): the Airports Authority or the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity. Firms certified by other certifying agencies in the United States that are interested in participating on Authority contracts must also receive certification by one of the UCP certifying entities prior to the solicitation due date in order to be counted toward the DBE goal on the Authority’s solicitation.