Women-owned businesses in Nebraska have two primary certification paths: the WBENC-recognized certificate issued by WBEC Great Plains (the regional affiliate), and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) designation administered by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT). Which one you pursue depends on whether your target contracts are corporate or government.
Who Certifies in Nebraska
WBEC Great Plains is the WBENC-affiliated certifying organization for Nebraska (as well as Kansas, Missouri, and several surrounding states). Certification through WBEC Great Plains carries the national WBENC seal, which is accepted by more than 1,000 corporate members including Fortune 500 companies.
Contact: wbecgreatplains.org. Their certification is the one to pursue if your pipeline is corporate supplier diversity programs.
Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) administers the federal DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) program for federally assisted transportation projects. DBE certification in Nebraska opens doors to NDOT contracts and any federally funded construction, planning, or design work in the state. The DBE program is governed by 49 CFR Part 26 and requires businesses to meet both economic disadvantage and social disadvantage standards under federal guidelines.
If you want both corporate contracts and government contracts, you will likely need both certifications. They do not substitute for each other.
Who Qualifies
WBEC Great Plains (WBENC Standard)
- The business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- The woman owner(s) must be involved in day-to-day operations and long-term strategic decisions
- Ownership must be real and not nominal. The certifier will scrutinize governance documents, bank signature authority, and operational control
- No revenue cap for WBENC certification (unlike the SBA's WOSB program, which limits revenues by NAICS code)
- The business must be for-profit and based in the United States
Nebraska DBE Program (NDOT)
- At least 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, which includes women as a presumptively disadvantaged group
- Personal net worth of each disadvantaged owner must not exceed $2.047 million (the current federal threshold), excluding equity in the primary residence and the business itself
- The business's average annual gross receipts over the past three fiscal years must not exceed the SBA size standard for the applicable NAICS code
- Owners must be U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents
The DBE economic thresholds mean that high-revenue or high-net-worth businesses may not qualify, even if they are majority woman-owned. WBENC has no such cap.
Required Documents
WBEC Great Plains Application
Expect to gather: - Completed online application via the WBEC Great Plains portal - Signed personal history statement for each woman owner - Business formation documents (articles of incorporation, operating agreement, or partnership agreement) - Stock certificates or membership interest certificates showing ownership percentages - Three years of business federal tax returns (or fewer if the business is newer) - Three years of personal federal tax returns for each woman owner claiming ownership - Bank signature cards and bank statements showing who controls the accounts - Business licenses, assumed name certificates, or DBA filings - Resume or biography for each woman owner - Organizational chart if the company has multiple owners or a management team - Lease or ownership documentation for the primary place of business - Evidence of operational control: contracts signed by the owner, internal communications, or similar
WBEC Great Plains may request additional documentation during review, particularly around governance or control if the ownership structure is complex.
NDOT DBE Application
Nebraska uses the UCP (Unified Certification Program) for DBE. Applications go through NDOT's Civil Rights/DBE office.
Required documents include: - UCP application form - Personal financial statements for each owner (the net worth calculation) - Three years of business and personal tax returns - Business formation and governance documents - Proof of citizenship or residency - Bank authorization records - Evidence of management control (employment agreements, board minutes, operational documentation) - SBA size determination or documentation establishing the firm meets size standards
Nebraska participates in the national UCP database, so a DBE certification obtained in Nebraska is recognized in all other states for federally funded projects.
Step-by-Step Application Process and Timeline
WBEC Great Plains Process
- Create an account on the WBEC Great Plains portal and start the online application
- Upload all required documents into the portal. Incomplete submissions slow the process significantly
- Pay the application fee. WBEC Great Plains charges on a sliding scale based on annual revenue: roughly $350–$1,250 for most small businesses. Fee schedule is posted on their site
- Wait for a completeness review. The certifier confirms all documents are present before moving to substantive review
- Desk review. Staff reviews documents for ownership, control, and eligibility. They may request additional items at this stage
- Site visit or interview. WBEC Great Plains typically conducts an on-site visit or virtual interview before issuing a certificate. This is where they verify the owner is actively managing the business
- Decision. Approved firms receive the WBENC certificate, valid for one year and renewable annually
Realistic timeline: 60–120 days from submission of a complete application. Applications with complex ownership structures or missing documents take longer.
NDOT DBE Process
- Download the UCP application from NDOT's website (transportation.nebraska.gov)
- Compile financial and business documents per the checklist above
- Submit to NDOT Civil Rights Office by mail or in person. Nebraska's DBE office is in Lincoln
- Completeness check. NDOT staff review the package and contact you if anything is missing
- Eligibility review. The agency assesses personal net worth, size standards, and control
- On-site visit. Federal DBE rules require an on-site review before certification
- Certification decision. If approved, you are listed in the national UCP directory
Timeline: 90 days is the federal standard for DBE decisions from the date of a complete application. Nebraska generally meets this benchmark. The certification is valid for three years, with annual affidavits required.
Cost: DBE certification through NDOT is free.
What Contracts It Opens in Nebraska
Corporate Contracts (WBENC Certification)
WBENC certification is the ticket into corporate supplier diversity programs. Major Nebraska-based or Nebraska-operating corporations with supplier diversity commitments include Union Pacific, Mutual of Omaha, Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries, and Valmont Industries. Many Fortune 500 companies require or strongly prefer WBENC-certified suppliers when sourcing from women-owned businesses.
WBEC Great Plains also runs matchmaking events and connects certified firms to regional and national corporate members. Certification alone does not generate contracts; it makes you eligible to compete for them.
State and Government Contracts (DBE Certification)
Nebraska does not have a standalone state MBE/WBE procurement set-aside program the way some states do. The primary government pathway is the federal DBE program administered by NDOT.
Nebraska's NDOT sets DBE participation goals on federally assisted contracts. The statewide overall DBE goal for NDOT contracts is set periodically and published in their annual goal-setting process; recent goals have been in the range of 7–10% of contract value. Contractors on NDOT projects are expected to make good-faith efforts to meet these goals, creating demand for certified DBE firms.
Beyond NDOT, the City of Omaha and the Lincoln Airport Authority each run their own DBE programs for federally funded projects. Certification through the state UCP is recognized by these agencies.
Nebraska's direct state procurement (outside of federally funded contracts) does not have a WBE set-aside percentage, but the state's procurement office encourages agencies to consider small and diverse firms in sourcing.
How WBE Stacks With Federal Certifications
If you sell to the federal government, WBENC and DBE certifications do not substitute for the SBA's Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) designations. Those are separate certifications that unlock federal set-aside contracts under FAR Part 19.
The WOSB program does accept WBENC certification as a third-party certifier, which means if you are already WBENC-certified, you can use that certification to self-certify in SAM.gov for the WOSB/EDWOSB program without going through a separate SBA application process. The EDWOSB requires an additional economic disadvantage determination.
So the practical stack for a Nebraska woman-owned business targeting both corporate and government work: - WBENC (via WBEC Great Plains) for corporate supplier diversity - NDOT DBE for state transportation and federally funded construction - WOSB/EDWOSB via SAM.gov for federal set-aside contracts (WBENC shortcut applies)
Each certification requires annual renewal or affidavits. Managing all three simultaneously means tracking separate renewal dates and documentation requirements.
Getting Help With the Application
The application process across these programs runs to hundreds of pages of documentation, fee schedules, and procedural requirements. Nebraska has two APEX Accelerator offices (formerly PTAC): one at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and one at Wayne State College. Both offer free one-on-one counseling for businesses pursuing certifications, including help with DBE and WOSB applications.
If you want someone to handle the end-to-end filing process rather than manage it yourself, CertifyAll is a service that handles gathering documents, preparing applications, and submitting to the appropriate agencies on your behalf. The flat fee covers multiple certifications, which makes it practical if you are pursuing WOSB, DBE, and WBENC in parallel rather than sequentially.
The certifications do not expire at the same time and renewal schedules will diverge quickly, so building a system to track them early is worth the time.
