Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program

The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program promotes business opportunities for small business enterprises, as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBE Program was started in 2022 in order to:

• Create and sustain opportunities for small businesses to participate in capital construction projects at the MBTA.
• Stimulate the Massachusetts economy by providing sustained revenue opportunities to local and small businesses.
• Reduce barriers to entry and establish minimum participation goals.

How the SBE Program Works

The Capital Programs Office manages the SBE Program. In partnership with the MBTA’s procurement departments, they identify business opportunities for enough qualified SBEs to ensure a competitive environment.

Each participant must be certified as an SBE, register on sam.gov, and be prequalified with the MBTA.

In government contracting, prime contractors work directly with the government, and subcontractors work directly with prime contractors. For now, the program’s focus is to increase the amount of SBE prime participation in construction contracts, though certain projects may have additional needs for professional services. Future phases of the program may also aim to increase SBE subcontractor participation.

How to Do Business with the MBTA as an SBE

All of the steps below are required to do business with the MBTA as an SBE unless otherwise noted.

Step 1: Get Certified as an SBE

We accept current certification documents as proof of your company’s SBE status from any of the following sources:

• Federal SBA 8(a)
• SBE programs from any state outside of Massachusetts
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) from the Massachusetts Unified Certification Program (UCP)
• DBE from any state outside of Massachusetts
• Minority- or Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) firms certified by the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office

If your company is DBE or MWBE certified, it does not also need to be SBE certified.

Step 2: Register Your Business on SAM.gov

After registering your business on SAM.gov, government organizations can find your company in search results and assess the size and type of your business.

Register on SAM.gov

Step 3: Get Prequalified with the MBTA

Fill out the prequalification form (PDF, 391 KB) and gather all supporting documents. You can find more supporting documents for design and construction contractors on the MBTA Business Center website.

Send the form and supporting documents as attachments to SBEprequal@mbta.com.

Once we receive your SBE prequalification form it will be reviewed by the MBTA Prequalification Committee, who meet on Thursdays. Once approved by the committee, you will then receive your prequalification certificate, which is valid for one year.

Processing times vary, but it can take up to six weeks to receive your certificate after applying. You must already have received your prequalification certificate to bid on a project.

Step 4: Create a Company Profile

Once you are prequalified, you can register your company with the MBTA by creating a company profile.

This step isn't required to do business with the MBTA, but we do recommend it. If you have a company profile you can search the database to learn about who else is working with the MBTA, opening up more potential partnerships. You can also receive invitations to business forums and networking events.

Create a company profile

Step 5: Find a Project to Bid On

SBE project values typically range from $500,000 to $3M, though some projects may go over or under this range.

View upcoming solicitations

Scroll down to “CURRENT SBE SOLICITATIONS (SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE),” then click the link(s) under that section to read details for each solicitation. If you don’t see any links, then no SBE solicitations are available at this time. Please check back later.

Step 6: Bid on an SBE Project

1. Download the bidding software on bidx.com and set up your user profile.
2. Apply for a digital ID with Bidx’s Project Bids software at least 14 days prior to a scheduled bid. You must have a valid, MBTA-approved digital ID in order to bid on projects.
3. Complete the request to bid form on the MBTA Business Center website, under Construction Contractor Prequalification. Email it and any attachments to plans&specifications@mbta.com. You must already have received your prequalification certificate to submit a request for bid.
4. Once you are approved as an eligible bidder by the MBTA, you can prepare and submit your bid for an SBE Project on bidx.com.

There is helpful documentation available on Bidx’s Knowledge Center for Contractors. For support, email customer.support@bidx.com or call Bidx Support at (888) 352-BIDX (2439).

We highly recommend submitting test bids on bidx.com to become familiar with the bid file system before the deadline. Bidx can take multiple bids from firms and will accept the most recent bid up until the 2 PM deadline.

All bids for a project will be posted on bidx.com after the submission deadline.

SBEs may apply as a team, but the SBE Program does not currently make mentor-protégé arrangements.

Introduction to Bonding Training for Small Businesses

Contact

For questions about the SBE Program, please email sbe@mbta.com.

For questions about prequalification, email sbeprequal@mbta.com.

For information and questions about professional services opportunities, email Cheryl Guiod, Director of Professional Services, at cguiod@mbta.com.

For customer support and questions related to Bidx.com, email customer.support@bidx.com or call Bidx Support at (888) 352-BIDX (2439).