Updated April 21, 2026
California DBE Directory: Caltrans DBE System, CUCP, and CaleProcure Search Guide (2026)
Three free databases, one answer
- caltrans.dbesystem.com — the primary California DBE & ACDBE directory. Search by NAICS, export CSV.
- ucp.dot.ca.gov — CUCP interface. Same database, simpler lookup.
- caleprocure.ca.gov — for California state SB, MB, SB-PW, and DVBE (separate from DBE).
Whether you're a prime contractor hitting DBE participation goals, an agency verifying certification before award, or an applicant checking your own listing — California has three free directories covering different certifications. This guide walks through each database, shows how to search efficiently, and explains how to verify results for bid documentation.
This is an independent informational resource — not a government website. The helper below simply prepares your search terms and opens the official CUCP directory at caltrans.dbesystem.com, where all firm data lives.
DBE / ACDBE Lookup Helper
Enter what you know about the firm, then open the official CUCP directory with your search terms ready to paste.
The search runs on the official CUCP system at caltrans.dbesystem.com — we do not host firm data. Heads-up: the public directory was taken down in early March 2026 during the statewide DBE/ACDBE reevaluation, and listings may still be incomplete or outdated while late submissions are processed — check the official site for current status, or ask us to help verify a firm.
Don't see your own firm in the directory?
During the 2026 statewide reevaluation, firms that haven't completed their reevaluation may no longer appear in the directory. Every California DBE had to submit a Personal Narrative and an updated personal net worth statement (the deadline was April 16, 2026) to keep their certification active. If your firm is missing, it is often a reevaluation issue — and it can be fixed.
1. Caltrans DBE System (Primary Database)
The Caltrans DBE System is the operational directory for every federally-recognized DBE and ACDBE in California — more than 6,000 certified firms. It is maintained by Caltrans as the lead CUCP agency and pulls certification data from all 12+ CUCP partner agencies (Caltrans, LA Metro, BART, SFMTA, SANDAG, SDMTS, AC Transit, Sacramento RTD, VTA, OCTA, LAWA airports, and others).
How to search
Note: the public directory was taken offline in early March 2026 during the statewide reevaluation and listings may still be incomplete — the steps below apply when the search is available.
- Go to caltrans.dbesystem.com (no account was required to search).
- Click “Search DBE Firm Directory”.
- Enter at least one search criterion: firm name, DBA, city, county, zip code, NAICS code, work category keyword, or certification type (DBE / ACDBE).
- Click “Search”. Results show firm name, city, certifying agency, certification date, and a list of NAICS codes.
- Click a firm name for full details: address, phone, email, contact, NAICS descriptions, certification expiration, and any reevaluation notes.
- Export results to CSV (button in the top-right of the results grid) for bid documentation or internal prime tracking.
Best for
Finding DBE/ACDBE subcontractors by trade (NAICS), verifying status before award, preparing DBE goal compliance reports.
2. CUCP Website Lookup
The official California Unified Certification Program website at ucp.dot.ca.gov provides a simpler lookup interface. It is the same underlying database as the Caltrans DBE System but strips the advanced filters. Good for quick yes/no verification when you already know the firm name.
How to search
- Visit ucp.dot.ca.gov.
- Click “DBE Directory” or “Search”.
- Enter firm name, location, or certification type.
- Review status, certifying agency, and NAICS. For deep filtering (NAICS, CSV export), use the Caltrans DBE System instead.
Best for
Quick verification when you have the firm name. Program-level information about the CUCP, member agencies, and annual goals.
3. CaleProcure (State SB, MB, SB-PW, DVBE)
State-level DGS certifications — SB, SB-PW, DVBE, and MB — are not in the Caltrans DBE System. They live in caleprocure.ca.gov, the California Department of General Services procurement portal.
How to search
- Go to caleprocure.ca.gov.
- Navigate to “Certified Small Business, MB, SB-PW, and DVBE Search”.
- Filter by certification type (SB, MB, SB-PW, DVBE — or any combination).
- Search by business name, UNSPSC code, location, keyword, or certification number.
- Click a result for full DGS record: owner demographics, certification date, UNSPSC codes, contact details.
Best for
State contracts (non-federal). For the meaning of these abbreviations in solicitations, see our “Certified SB, MB, SB-PW, or DVBE Only” explainer.
Facing the DBE Reevaluation?
Every certified California DBE must submit a Personal Narrative and updated personal net worth statement. An advisor can review your packet before you file — so a missed detail doesn't cost you your certification.
Get Free Reevaluation HelpWhich Database Matches Your Need
| You Need | Use This |
|---|---|
| DBE subcontractors for federal-aid projects (Caltrans, transit, FHWA, FTA, FAA) | Caltrans DBE System (caltrans.dbesystem.com) |
| Verify a DBE at time of award | Caltrans DBE System — screenshot the Active status |
| ACDBE firms for airport concessions | Caltrans DBE System (filter: ACDBE) |
| SB/DVBE for state contracts | CaleProcure (caleprocure.ca.gov) |
| SB-PW contractors for state public works | CaleProcure — filter by SB-PW |
| Your own listing (as a certified firm) | Caltrans DBE System (DBE/ACDBE) or CaleProcure (state) |
Tips for Prime Contractors
- Search by NAICS, not firm name. Name search returns only what you already know. NAICS search surfaces every qualified DBE in the trade — primes often find new subcontractors this way.
- Try multiple NAICS codes. A paving contractor might be listed under 237310, 237990, or 238990. Check adjacent codes.
- Filter by county for local hiring. California public works often reward local subcontractor participation. County filter narrows the pool.
- Screenshot status at award. A firm's status can change between bid and award. Document the Active status with a dated screenshot at commitment.
- Export CSV for DBE compliance reports. The CSV export has the certifying agency column — useful for proving you relied on CUCP data in goal-attainment documentation.
- Re-verify before change orders. A decertified DBE cannot count on new change-order work. Re-verify status before issuing new subcontract scope.
When the Directory Says “Under Review”
After the April 16, 2026 USDOT DBE reevaluation deadline, many firms show an “Under Review” or “Reevaluation Pending” flag. Treatment:
- Still countable for DBE goals. Until the certifying agency issues a formal decertification notice, the firm remains an Active DBE and counts toward prime DBE participation.
- Prime documentation. Print the “Under Review” status with timestamp as documentation. If the firm is later decertified, work already performed still counts (49 CFR § 26.87(j)).
- New commitments. Some agencies advise against new subcontract commitments during pending review. Check with the contracting officer. Firms going through reevaluation can reference our Caltrans reevaluation playbook.
If Your Firm Is Not in the Directory
Not finding your firm means one of four things: (1) not yet certified, (2) certification has expired, (3) reevaluation still pending, or (4) searched under a DBA that doesn't match the legal name on the certification.
- Apply for DBE: complete DBE certification guide
- Apply for SB/SBE: SBE guide (free, DGS)
- Apply for DVBE: DVBE guide
- Apply for ACDBE: ACDBE guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the official California DBE directory?
California's DBE and ACDBE directory is maintained under the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP), with the search interface historically hosted at caltrans.dbesystem.com and linked from ucp.dot.ca.gov. Note that the public directory was taken offline in early March 2026 during the statewide DBE reevaluation, and listings may be incomplete or outdated while late submissions are processed — verify current availability at ucp.dot.ca.gov.
Is the California DBE directory currently online?
Availability has been disrupted. The public directory was taken offline in early March 2026 during the statewide reevaluation, and even where search functions have returned, listings may be incomplete or outdated while late submissions are processed. Verify current availability at ucp.dot.ca.gov, and confirm any individual firm's status directly with its certifying agency before relying on it.
How do I verify that a firm is currently DBE-certified?
The most reliable method right now is to contact the firm's certifying agency (Caltrans, LA Metro, BART, SFMTA, SANDAG, or another CUCP member) and request written confirmation of certification status. Because the public directory was taken offline in early March 2026 during the statewide reevaluation, and listings may be incomplete or outdated while late submissions are processed, a directory search alone may not be conclusive — verify current availability at ucp.dot.ca.gov. When you do obtain confirmation, keep a dated record for bid documentation.
Can I search California DBE firms by NAICS code?
When the Caltrans DBE System search is available, it includes a NAICS filter in the advanced search — entering a NAICS code returns firms certified for that industry code, which is the most effective way to find subcontractors for a specific trade. However, the public directory was taken offline in early March 2026 during the statewide reevaluation, and listings may be incomplete or outdated while late submissions are processed — verify current availability at ucp.dot.ca.gov.
Where do I find California certified SB, MB, DVBE, or SB-PW firms?
These state-level DGS certifications are not in the federal DBE directory and are searched separately at caleprocure.ca.gov under 'Certified Small Business, MB, SB-PW, and DVBE Search' — filter by certification type to narrow to just SB, MB, DVBE, or SB-PW. See our separate guides for SBE, DVBE, and SB-PW certifications.
My firm is not in the directory — what does that mean?
Absence from the directory does not automatically mean you have lost certification. The public directory was taken offline in early March 2026 during the statewide reevaluation, and listings may be incomplete or outdated while late submissions are processed — verify current availability at ucp.dot.ca.gov. Beyond that, common causes include a reevaluation still pending after the April 16, 2026 deadline, an expired certification, or searching under a DBA instead of the legal name on file. Check with your home certifying agency first; if you are not yet certified, see our DBE certification guide.
Disclaimer: Database URLs and interfaces may change. Always verify certification status directly with the certifying agency via a live query against caltrans.dbesystem.com or caleprocure.ca.gov before relying on results for bid documentation. This is an independent informational resource, not affiliated with Caltrans, CUCP, or DGS.
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