Port of Oakland (Seaport and Oakland International Airport) DBE Program: How to Get Certified & Win Contracts (2026)
The Port of Oakland operates one of the busiest container seaports in the United States and also runs Oakland International Airport, serving Oakland and Alameda County in the San Francisco Bay Area. Because the Port builds and maintains its facilities with federal dollars — FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants at the airport and Maritime Administration (MARAD) grants at the seaport — it runs a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and an Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program. But the Port plays a specific role: it is a contracting and goal-setting agency, not a certifier. This independent guide explains how the Port's DBE and ACDBE programs work, how to get certified through the California Unified Certification Program (CA UCP) so you can bid on Port contracts and airport concessions, how to find and bid on that work, and how to verify certified firms. New to the program itself? Start with our statewide DBE certification guide.
Last reviewed June 2026 — verify current details on the Port of Oakland's official Social Responsibility Division — Programs & Policies page. This is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Port of Oakland, Oakland International Airport, the California UCP, Caltrans, the FAA, MARAD, or USDOT. Always confirm current requirements, goals, thresholds, and contacts on the agency's official site before acting.
Port of Oakland DBE Program: Quick Answer
The Port of Oakland sets DBE and ACDBE goals on its federally funded contracts and airport concessions but does NOT certify firms — you get certified through the California UCP, then compete for the Port's goaled work.
- The Port's Social Responsibility Division (SRD) administers the federal DBE program under 49 CFR Part 26 and the airport ACDBE program under 49 CFR Part 23.
- The Port is a CUCP signatory but is a contracting agency, not a certifying member — it sets and monitors goals and verifies bidders via the CUCP database.
- You certify once through the CA UCP (typically via Caltrans) — a DBE/ACDBE certification is recognized statewide, including for Port work.
- The Port also runs its own local SBE/VSBE certification (the NDSLBUP) for non-federally funded work — distinct from federal DBE/ACDBE.
- Find opportunities at the Port Bids/RFPs/RFQs Center and via BidNet Direct.
Verify Current Goals & Federal DBE Status
The Port references a FAA Triennial DBE Goal for FFY 2026-2028 and FAA Triennial ACDBE Goals for FFY 2024-2026, but the current overall goal percentages could not be confirmed from official sources, so we do not state a number here. Separately, the federal DBE framework has been in transition nationally since the October 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule (which removed group presumptions of disadvantage). Confirm the current adopted goals, methodology, and certification rules on the Port's official Social Responsibility Division page before you bid. For the statewide picture, see our DBE reevaluation guide.
1. What the Port of Oakland Is and Its Role in DBE Contracting
The Port of Oakland is a major maritime and aviation authority in Oakland, Alameda County, California. It operates the Oakland seaport — one of the principal container ports on the U.S. West Coast — and Oakland International Airport. To build, maintain, and expand these facilities, the Port receives federal funding: FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants for the airport and Maritime Administration (MARAD) grants for the seaport. Federal money carries federal civil-rights obligations.
The Port's role in the DBE program is that of a contracting and goal-setting recipient, not a certifier. The Port is a signatory to the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) under USDOT regulations (49 CFR Parts 23 and 26), but it explicitly states that it does not certify DBEs or ACDBEs itself:
Contracting (goal-setting) agency
The Port's Social Responsibility Division sets DBE goals on its federally funded contracts and ACDBE goals on airport concession contracts, monitors participation, and verifies bidders' certified status through the statewide CUCP database. It does not process certification applications.
Certification happens through the CA UCP
Firms obtain DBE/ACDBE certification through the California UCP — via Caltrans or another CUCP certifying partner — and then bid on Port work. The Port directs applicants to the CUCP system and to the Caltrans DBE certification pages.
In practical terms: you get certified once through the CA UCP, and then the Port — wearing its contracting hat — gives certified firms opportunities to compete for and participate in its federally assisted contracts and airport concessions. For how the statewide system is organized, see California's DBE certifying agencies and the role of Caltrans as the CUCP lead agency.
2. How the Port's DBE & ACDBE Programs Work
The Port of Oakland's Social Responsibility Division (SRD) administers a USDOT-approved DBE program under 49 CFR Part 26 on its federally funded contracts — including FAA AIP grants at Oakland International Airport and MARAD grants at the seaport. The airport also runs an ACDBE program under 49 CFR Part 23 for airport concession contracts. The programs exist to ensure non-discrimination and a level playing field so that DBE and ACDBE firms can compete fairly for the Port's federally assisted contracting and concession opportunities.
A DBE is a for-profit small business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The Port pursues its participation through several mechanisms:
- A DBE Program Plan and a Goal and Methodology Report (GMR), which set proposed DBE participation levels on the Port's federally funded work and are posted for public comment.
- Triennial DBE goals for federally assisted contracts (a FAA Triennial DBE Goal for FFY 2026-2028 was referenced via a public notice dated July 16, 2025).
- An ACDBE program with triennial ACDBE goals for airport concessions — retail, food and beverage, and car rental (FAA Triennial ACDBE Goals were referenced for FFY 2024-2026).
- Verification through the CUCP database: rather than certifying firms, the Port confirms a bidder's DBE/ACDBE status against the statewide directory.
3. The Port's DBE & ACDBE Goals
The Port sets triennial DBE goals for its federally funded contracts and triennial ACDBE goals for airport concessions, and posts the underlying goal methodology for public comment.
The Port references a FAA Triennial DBE Goal for FFY 2026-2028 and FAA Triennial ACDBE Goals for FFY 2024-2026. As of June 2026, the current overall goal percentages could not be confirmed from official sources, so we do not state a goal percentage here. (An older 0.48% car-rental ACDBE figure appeared for the expired FFY 2020-2023 period; that period has lapsed and should not be treated as current.) Confirm the current adopted goals on the Port's official Social Responsibility Division page before relying on them in a bid or proposal.
Note that under the October 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule, the federal DBE framework — including how recipients set and apply goals — has been in transition nationally. Treat any goal figure you find as provisional until you verify it against the Port's current published methodology on the official Social Responsibility Division site.
4. How to Get DBE/ACDBE-Certified to Bid on the Port
You do not get DBE-certified by the Port of Oakland. You become certified through the California Unified Certification Program — one application, recognized statewide — and the Port then recognizes that certification when you bid. For airport concessions, the same CUCP process applies for ACDBE certification. Here is the path:
- 1
Confirm you meet DBE/ACDBE eligibility
Confirm your firm is a for-profit small business at least 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s). Since the October 2025 USDOT IFR, each owner submits a Personal Narrative proving individual disadvantage (group presumptions were removed). The personal net worth cap is $2,047,000.
- 2
Prepare and submit your CUCP application
Submit the Uniform Certification Application and supporting documents (business records, business and personal tax returns, and a Personal Net Worth statement) through the CA UCP / Caltrans. Information is at dot.ca.gov/programs/civil-rights/dbe-certification-information and the CUCP system is at californiaucp.dbesystem.com. Many firms apply through Caltrans, the largest CUCP certifying member.
- 3
Get listed in the statewide CUCP database
Once certified, your firm appears in the CUCP database and is recognized by all USDOT-funded recipients in California, including the Port of Oakland. The Port verifies your status against this directory — there is no separate Port DBE certification to obtain.
- 4
Verify current steps on the official sites
Confirm the current application steps, forms, and processing status on the CA UCP / Caltrans official sites before you file, especially given the transition under the October 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule.
For the full document checklist, eligibility tests (ownership, control, size, personal net worth), and how the Personal Narrative works, see our DBE certification guide and the Caltrans DBE guide (the most common CUCP route). You can also review who qualifies and the application steps.
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Request Free Consultation5. The Port's Own Local Programs (SBE / VSBE / MAPLA)
In addition to the federal DBE and ACDBE programs, the Port runs several of its own programs and policies through the Social Responsibility Division. These are Port-specific — separate from a CA UCP DBE/ACDBE certification — and are applied for or administered directly by the Port, not through the statewide CUCP.
NDSLBUP — local SBE & VSBE certification (non-federal work)
The Port's Non-Discrimination and Small Local Business Utilization Policy (NDSLBUP), adopted October 7, 1997, is a geographically based local certification distinct from federal DBE. It provides preference/rating points, set-aside contracts, and technical assistance on Port-funded (non-federal) work. It certifies Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Very Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) firms located or operating in Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville, or San Leandro. The working revenue thresholds reported across Port pages are an average gross revenue not exceeding $36M over three years for an SBE and not exceeding $5M for a VSBE — verify the current figures on the official site, as they are updated periodically. Applications are made directly to the Port's Social Responsibility Division; the Port also participates in an East Bay Interagency Alliance (EBIA) Common Application for Alameda and Contra Costa county firms.
NDSLBUP for Alternative Project Delivery Approaches (APDA)
A companion policy adopted June 18, 2002, extending the Port's small-local-business utilization framework to alternative project delivery approaches on Port work.
MAPLA — Maritime and Aviation Project Labor Agreement
Adopted March 2000 and revised effective February 1, 2016, the MAPLA addresses labor stability, local-resident hiring, and the use of Port-recognized small businesses on covered maritime and aviation construction work.
Living Wage Policy
The Port applies the City of Oakland Living Wage Policy (Measure I / Charter Section 728) to covered Port contracts and tenants.
Full details on these Port-specific programs live on the Port's official Small & Local Business page and the Social Responsibility Division — Programs & Policies page. Whether the Port's local SBE/VSBE certification carries any crossover to federal DBE/ACDBE status is not confirmed — assume it does not, and certify through the CA UCP for any federal goal.
6. How to Find & Bid on Port Contracts & Concessions
Port contracting opportunities are published through the Port's own bid center and through a shared purchasing platform. Airport concession opportunities are publicized separately. To see solicitations and bid, you generally need to register first:
Engineering and public works bids, RFPs/RFQs, goods and services, and concessions — register for bid, RFP, and RFQ notifications.
The Port posts formally bid public works opportunities and engineering RFPs/RFQs here. Registration is free and supports automatic bid-match email notifications.
Oakland International Airport concession opportunities (retail, food/beverage, car rental) where ACDBE goals may apply.
DBE and ACDBE program details, goals, and the Port's local SBE/VSBE programs.
7. Verify & Look Up DBE Firms
Because DBE and ACDBE certification is unified statewide through the CA UCP, you do not need a Port-specific directory to confirm a firm's status for Port work. A firm certified by any CUCP member — Caltrans or another agency — is listed in the same statewide directory and is valid for the Port's federally funded contracts and airport concessions.
Who uses the directory
- Prime contractors and concessionaires bidding Port work search by NAICS/work code and county to find DBE/ACDBE partners who can count toward a contract's goal.
- Subcontractors and concession partners confirm their own listing is current and accurate so primes can find and rely on them.
- The Port and primes verify a firm's current certification status before counting its participation.
Use our DBE Directory page for how to search the statewide CA UCP directory by firm name, work code, or county, and to verify a firm's current certification before relying on it for DBE/ACDBE participation on a Port of Oakland contract or airport concession.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Port of Oakland certify DBE or ACDBE firms?
No. The Port is a signatory to the California Unified Certification Program but explicitly does NOT certify DBEs or ACDBEs itself — it is a contracting and goal-setting agency. You obtain certification through the CA UCP, typically by applying to Caltrans (the largest CUCP certifying member) or another CUCP partner, and the Port verifies your status through the statewide CUCP database when you bid.
Is the Port's local SBE/VSBE certification the same as a federal DBE certification?
No. The Port runs its own geographically based local certification under its Non-Discrimination and Small Local Business Utilization Policy (NDSLBUP), certifying SBE and VSBE firms located or operating in Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville, or San Leandro for the Port's non-federally funded work. That local certification is applied for directly with the Port's Social Responsibility Division and is separate from a federal DBE/ACDBE certification, which must go through the CA UCP.
Do I need to be certified to bid on Port of Oakland contracts?
No. Any qualified firm can bid on Port contracts. DBE certification (or ACDBE certification for airport concessions) is required only if you want your participation counted toward a contract's DBE/ACDBE goal — most often as a DBE subcontractor on a federally funded Port contract, or as an ACDBE on an Oakland International Airport concession.
What is the Port of Oakland's DBE or ACDBE goal?
The Port references a FAA Triennial DBE Goal for FFY 2026-2028 and FAA Triennial ACDBE Goals for FFY 2024-2026, but the current overall goal percentages could not be confirmed from official sources, so we do not state a number here. Goals are set as triennial percentages and posted for public comment; verify the current adopted goals on the Port's official Social Responsibility Division page.
How do I find Port of Oakland contract and concession opportunities?
Use the Port's Bids/RFPs/RFQs Center at portofoakland.com/business/bids-rfp-center for engineering and public works bids, RFPs/RFQs, goods and services, and concessions, and register for notifications. The Port also posts formally bid opportunities through BidNet Direct (California Purchasing Group) at bidnetdirect.com/california/portofoakland, where registration is free and supports automatic bid-match emails. Airport concession opportunities are publicized on the airport's 'Become a Concessionaire' page at iflyoak.com.
How do I verify that a firm is a certified DBE or ACDBE for a Port contract?
Use the statewide California UCP DBE directory. Because DBE/ACDBE certification is unified, a firm certified by any CUCP member is in the same searchable directory and is valid for the Port's federally funded contracts and airport concessions. Search by firm name, NAICS/work code, or county and confirm the certification is current before relying on it.
Related Resources
Disclaimer: This guide is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with the Port of Oakland, Oakland International Airport, the California UCP, Caltrans, the FAA, MARAD, or USDOT. It does not certify firms and does not process applications. DBE/ACDBE program rules, goals, thresholds, and contacts change — and the federal DBE framework has been in transition since the October 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule. Always verify current details on the Port's official Social Responsibility Division site and the Caltrans / CA UCP DBE pages before applying or bidding.
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