Kentucky DBE Program - Opportunities
The Kentucky Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is dedicated to helping businesses take advantage of the many opportunities available through the Ohio River Bridges Project. The KY DBE Program Manager, coordinators and other DBEs working on the project strive to provide the business community with information about the Bridges Project, help firms prepare for opportunities and grow more competitive.
Following are some important tips aimed at helping you make the most of the opportunities the Bridges Project has to offer:
Seek information - Every KY DBE interested in working on the Bridges Project should do their research. Review the application process; take advantage of the resources available to answer your questions. Business owners should make strategic decisions about certification and prequalification carefully.
Click here for prequalification information.
Click here for the KY DBE eNewsletter archive.
Assess your business - Is your business setting realistic goals for the project? Do you have the staff, equipment, experience and financing to acquire the contracts for which you'll be competing? Do you have sufficient liability insurance and bonding?
Click here to complete the 360° Business Assessment.
Set realistic goals - Will you compete as a prime contractor or is your business more suited for 2nd- or 3rd-tier subcontracting status? Should you be bidding on smaller projects to gain experience and build relationships with larger contractors?
Build and nurture relationships - Have you identified and/or worked with enough prime contractors to have established positive work experience and referrals? Have you pursued mentor/protege relationships with other DBEs that have found success on the project?
Commit to a strategy - Do you regularly monitor the bid lettings posted by KYTC or other transportation or construction projects?
Spread the knowledge - If you have had success with projects as a DBE, have a hand ready to help a 2nd or 3rd tier sub-contractor. Are you setting aside time to attend meetings with peers in your industry? Are you a mentor?
Acting on these suggestions can help businesses access a broad range of opportunities in the design, right-of-way and construction phases of the Bridges Project. A few of these opportunities include:
- Heavy equipment operation
- Carpentry
- Pile driving
- Pipe laying
- Cement finishing
- Traffic control
- Erosion/soil control
- Computer imaging
- Tunnel boring
- Highway design
- Right-of-way acquisition
- Landscaping
- Structure aesthetics
- Geotechnical and topographical surveying
- Environmental preservation and noise mitigation
- Tunnel mechanical
- Concrete
- Structural steel
- Steel reinforcement
- Retaining walls
- Lighting (temporary and permanent)
- Signage (temporary and permanent)
- Storm drainage, under drain (scuppers and sewers)
- Structural steel piling, bearing piles
- Asphalt paving
- Earth work, removal
- Guard rail (bridges end/crash cushion)
- Dense grade aggregate and crushed stone
- Clearing and grubbing