ESB Certification Eligibility
Overview
Be sure you review the ESB Program Rules for in-depth eligibility criteria; what you see here is a summary.
Business Status
An applicant must be a for-profit business currently in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State.
ESB Orientation
It is highly suggested that prior to applying, an owner, officer or manager of the firm watch the ESB Orientation Webinar recording. This orientation will take about an hour and will provide you with an overview of the ESB program and associated information. To access the recording, visit the on-demand recorded webinars page on CDOT's Connect2DOT website and scroll to the Small Business Certifications section.
Independence
The applicant must be an independent business. It must demonstrate that its viability does not depend upon a relationship with another business or businesses.
Qualifying Principal Area of Business
The applicant’s principal area of business must be to provide professional services, practice of research, or construction work that could be related to CDOT’s transportation contracts, including aeronautics, transit, and highway.
Business Size
In order to qualify for the ESB program, the average annual gross receipts of the firm (including affiliates) cannot exceed that established by the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) size tables (See 13 CFR part 121) for the primary industry of the firm.
Further, Certification Level will be assigned according to the following size standards:
- Level 1: $1M (prof.services) & $3M (construction)
- Level 2: 50% SBA (by primary NAICS)
- SBE: 100% SBA (by primary NAICS)
Debarment and Conviction
The business or any principal of the business shall not have been debarred or convicted of bid-related crimes or violations within the past six years in any state or federal jurisdiction, or be under notice of intent to debar in any jurisdiction.
Truth and Honesty
The business or any principal of the business shall not provide false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements in the ESB application or in any other information, statements, or documents submitted to CDOT.
Cooperation and Complete Disclosure
The business must respond timely to, and fully comply with, all requests for information made by CDOT regarding participation in the ESB program.