Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110
§47113 Minority and Disadvantaged Business Participation
Title 49 › SUBTITLE VII — AVIATION PROGRAMS › PART B — AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT AND NOISE › CHAPTER 471 — AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT › SUBCHAPTER I — AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT › § 47113
Summary
Requires at least 10 percent of the money available in a fiscal year under section 48103 to be spent with small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged people or with qualified HUBZone small businesses, unless the Secretary decides otherwise. A "small business concern" follows the Small Business Act rules (for construction, it must meet NAICS code 237310 size limits), a "socially and economically disadvantaged individual" follows the Small Business Act definition (women are presumed to qualify), and a "qualified HUBZone small business concern" follows the Small Business Act definition. The Secretary must set simple, uniform steps for States and airport sponsors to use when they check and certify these small businesses (things like on-site checks, interviews, ownership and financial proof, licenses, bonds, equipment and past work, and resumes). Each State and airport sponsor must make a yearly list of these businesses and where they are. Within 1 year after the law is enacted, the Secretary must create required training for airport officials who give assurances or decide business eligibility; private groups approved by the Secretary can run the training. The Secretary, working with the FAA Administrator, may give grants to help airports run training and support programs so these small businesses can better compete. Eligible recipients include States, local governments, Tribal governments, airport sponsors, metropolitan planning organizations, groups of these entities, or others the Secretary approves.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §47113
Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Definitions.—
In this section
(1)
(3)the term “qualified HUBZone small business concern” has the meaning given that term in section 31(b) of the Small Business Act.
(b)General Requirement.—
Except to the extent the Secretary decides otherwise, at least 10 percent of amounts available in a fiscal year under section 48103 of this title shall be expended with small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or qualified HUBZone small business concerns.
(c)Uniform Criteria.—
The Secretary shall establish minimum uniform criteria for State governments and airport sponsors to use in certifying whether a small business concern qualifies under this section. The criteria shall include on-site visits, personal interviews, licenses, analyses of stock ownership and bonding capacity, listings of equipment and work completed, resumes of principal owners, financial capacity, and type of work preferred.
(d)Surveys and Lists.—
Each State or airport sponsor annually shall survey and compile a list of small business concerns referred to in subsection (b) of this section and the location of each concern in the State.
(e)Mandatory Training Program.—
(1)In general.—
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a mandatory training program for persons described in paragraph (3) to provide streamlined training on certifying whether a small business concern qualifies as a small business concern owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals under this section and section 47107(e).
(2)Implementation.—
The training program may be implemented by one or more private entities approved by the Secretary.
(3)Participants.—
A person referred to in paragraph (1) is an official or agent of an airport sponsor— (A)
(B)who is responsible for determining whether or not a small business concern qualifies as a small business concern owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals under this section or section 47107(e).
(f)Supportive Services.—
(1)In general.—
The Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, may, at the request of an airport sponsor, provide assistance under a grant issued under this subchapter to develop, conduct, and administer training programs and assistance programs in connection with any airport improvement project subject to part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, for small business concerns referred to in subsection (b) to achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal basis for contracts and subcontracts related to such projects.
(2)Eligible entities.—
An entity eligible to receive assistance under this section is—
(A)a State;
(B)a political subdivision of a State or local government;
(C)a Tribal government;
(D)an airport sponsor;
(E)a metropolitan planning organization;
(F)a group of entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E); or
(G)any other organization considered appropriate by the Secretary.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Pub. L. 103–272 Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 47113(a)49 App.:2204(d)(2).Sept. 3, 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, 96 Stat. 324, § 505(d); added Dec. 30, 1987, Pub. L. 100–223, § 105(f), 101 Stat. 1493; Oct. 31, 1992, Pub. L. 102–581, § 117(c), 106 Stat. 4883. 47113(b)49 App.:2204(d)(1). 47113(c)49 App.:2204(d)(4). 47113(d)49 App.:2204(d)(3). In subsection (a)(1)(B), the words “or individuals” are omitted because of 1:1. In subsection (a)(2), the reference is to section 8(c) of the Act because 15:637(d) was redesignated as 15:637(c) by section 3 of the Women’s Business Development Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–191, 105 Stat. 1591). In subsection (b), the words “beginning after September 30, 1987” are omitted as obsolete. Pub. L. 103–429This amends 49:47113(a)(2) to correct erroneous cross-references.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 31(b) of the Small Business Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is classified to section 657a(b) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. The date of enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 112–95, which was approved Feb. 14, 2012.
Amendments
2024—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 118–63 added subsec. (f). 2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–254, § 150, amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “ ‘small business concern’— “(A) has the same meaning given that term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632); but “(B) does not include a concern, or group of concerns controlled by the same socially and economically disadvantaged individual, that has average annual gross receipts over the prior 3 fiscal years of more than $16,015,000, as adjusted by the Secretary of Transportation for inflation;”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–254, § 539(o), substituted “(15 U.S.C. 632(p))” for “(15 U.S.C. 632(o))”. 2017—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “section 31(b) of the Small Business Act” for “section 3(p) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(o))”. 2012—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 112–95 added subsec. (e). 1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–135, § 604(h)(2)(A), substituted semicolon for period at end of par. (1), substituted “; and” for period at end of par. (2), and added par. (3). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–135, § 604(h)(2)(B), inserted “or qualified HUBZone small business concerns” before period at end. 1994—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–429 substituted “8(d)” for “8(c)” in two places and “637(d))” for “637(c))”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2017 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–91 effective Jan. 1, 2020, see section 1701(j) of Pub. L. 115–91, set out as a note under section 657a of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
Effective Date
of 1997 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–135 effective Oct. 1, 1997, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–135, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
Effective Date
of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–429 effective
July 5, 1994, see section 9 of Pub. L. 103–429, set out as a note under section 321 of this title. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title I, § 157, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3218, as amended by Pub. L. 118–63, title VII, § 751,
May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1284, provided that: “(a) Findings.—Congress finds the following:“(1) While significant progress has occurred due to the establishment of the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program (section 47107(e) and 47113 of title 49, United States Code), discrimination and related barriers continue to pose significant obstacles for minority- and women-owned businesses seeking to do business in airport-related markets across the Nation. These continuing barriers merit the continuation of the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program. “(2) Congress has received and reviewed testimony and documentation of race and gender discrimination from numerous sources, including congressional hearings and roundtables, scientific reports, reports issued by public and private agencies, news stories, reports of discrimination by organizations and individuals, and discrimination lawsuits. This testimony and documentation shows that race- and gender-neutral efforts alone are insufficient to address the problem. “(3) This testimony and documentation demonstrates that discrimination across the Nation poses a barrier to full and fair participation in airport-related businesses of women business owners and minority business owners in the racial groups detailed in parts 23 and 26 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations
, and has impacted firm development and many aspects of airport-related business in the public and private markets. “(4) This testimony and documentation provides a strong basis that there is a compelling need for the continuation of the airport disadvantaged business enterprise [“DBE”] program and the airport concessions disadvantaged business enterprise [“ACDBE”] program to address race and gender discrimination in airport-related business. “(b) Prompt Payments.—“(1) Reporting of complaints.—Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 2018], the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall ensure that each airport that participates in the Program tracks, and reports to the Administrator, the number of covered complaints made in relation to activities at that airport. “(2) Improving compliance.—“(A) In general.—The Administrator shall take actions to assess and improve compliance with prompt payment requirements under part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations
. “(B) Contents of assessment.—In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall assess—“(i) whether requirements relating to the inclusion of prompt payment language in contracts are being satisfied; “(ii) whether and how airports are enforcing prompt payment requirements; “(iii) the processes by which covered complaints are received and resolved by airports; “(iv) whether improvements need to be made to— “(I) better track covered complaints received by airports; and “(II) assist the resolution of covered complaints in a timely manner; “(v) whether changes to prime contractor specifications need to be made to ensure prompt payments to subcontractors; and, “(vi) whether changes to prime contractor specifications need to be made to ensure prompt payment of retainage to subcontractors. “(C) Reporting.—The Administrator shall make available to the public on an appropriate website operated by the Administrator a report describing the results of the assessment completed under this paragraph, including a plan to respond to such results. “(D) Publishing data.—The Secretary of Transportation shall report on a publicly accessible website the uniform report of DBE awards/commitments and payments specified in part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations
, and the uniform report of ACDBE Participation for non-car rental and car rental concessions, for each airport sponsor beginning with fiscal year 2025. “(3) Definitions.—In this subsection, the following definitions apply:“(A) Covered complaint.—The term ‘covered complaint’ means a complaint relating to an alleged failure to satisfy a prompt payment requirement under part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations
. “(B) Program.—The term ‘Program’ means the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program referenced in subsection (a)(1) [probably means section 140(a)(1)] of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 [Pub. L. 112–95] (49 U.S.C. 47113 note).” Pub. L. 112–95, title I, § 140(a), Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 27, provided that: “Congress finds the following: “(1) While significant progress has occurred due to the establishment of the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program (49 U.S.C. 47107(e) and 47113), discrimination and related barriers continue to pose significant obstacles for minority- and women-owned businesses seeking to do business in airport-related markets across the Nation. These continuing barriers merit the continuation of the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program. “(2) Congress has received and reviewed testimony and documentation of race and gender discrimination from numerous sources, including congressional hearings and roundtables, scientific reports, reports issued by public and private agencies, news stories, reports of discrimination by organizations and individuals, and discrimination lawsuits. This testimony and documentation shows that race- and gender-neutral efforts alone are insufficient to address the problem. “(3) This testimony and documentation demonstrates that discrimination across the Nation poses a barrier to full and fair participation in airport-related businesses of women business owners and minority business owners in the racial groups detailed in parts 23 and 26 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations
, and has impacted firm development and many aspects of airport-related business in the public and private markets. “(4) This testimony and documentation provides a strong basis that there is a compelling need for the continuation of the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program and the airport concessions disadvantaged business enterprise program to address race and gender discrimination in airport-related business.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 47113
Title 49, Transportation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110