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Complaint Resolution

The Office of Civil Rights, has established a formal mediation program to resolve allegations of workplace discrimination and/or harassment raised through the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) pre-complaint process.

The objective of this program is to resolve allegations early and at the lowest possible level. Early resolution benefits the agency by creating a more hospitable workplace for all. Other benefits for the agency include reduction of the significant costs associated with processing complaints.

The first step in initiating the EEO complaint process is for the aggrieved person to contact an EEO Counselor. In accordance with 29 CFR 1614, contact with an EEO counselor must be made within 45 days of the alleged act of discrimination or harassment or the effective date of a personnel action. During the initial interview the counselor will let the employee know that they have the option of mediation or counseling as appropriate. The mediation process is voluntary for both parties.

Click here for more information on filing an FAA EEO Complaint. 

Airport Civil Rights Programs

The National External Civil Rights Programs at the airport includes the Disadvantage Business Enterprise/Airport Concessions Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE/ACDBE) program, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Limited English Proficiency (LEP), American with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other civil rights policies and regulations affecting airports.

Title VI Airport Nondiscrimination Program

• Title VI

National Airport Policy and Compliance

• National Airport Policy and Compliance

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 – Airport Disability Compliance Program

The ADA/Section 504 — Airport Disability Compliance Program staff assists with upholding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. This act provides comprehensive civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, public accommodations, State and local government services, and telecommunications.

• Airport Disability Compliance Program
• General Information on ADA
• ADA Title II Primer
• Air Travel Tips and Publications

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

Filing A Complaint

• Discrimination Complaints and Complaint Forms

Helpful Links

• Unlawful Discrimination Poster(PDF)
• DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Division (C-75)

DBE and ACDBE Program Training

• National Civil Rights Training for Airports
• DBE/ACDBE Certification Training Course #361031 hosted by the National Highway Institute
• U.S.DOT's website

DBE and ACDBE Programs Guidance and Best Practices

Three operating administrations within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. These are the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). As such, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) within DOT maintains the Department's main DBE web site, which includes Guidance for DBE Program Administrators.

Guidance

• Guidance on Counting ACDBE Advertising Services
• DBE and ACDBE Forms
• DBE Uniform Report Guidance on Section C for Ongoing Payments
• 2025 Joint Venture Guidance
• DBE and ACDBE Goal Reporting Schedule For Recipients
• Tips for Goal Setting
• DBE Goal Shortfall Corrective Action Plan Template Letter for Airports
• ACDBE Goal Shortfall
• Goal Shortfall Analysis Tips
• DBE and ACDBE Goal and Report Schedule for Recipients
• Departmental Office of Civil Rights (DOCR)'s DBE guidance webpage:
  • DBE Guidance
  • Additional Guidance for DBE and ACDBE Program Administrators

Best Practices

• Where to Find Airport DBE Business Opportunities

Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

Overview

General Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

The Department of Transportation's (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is implemented by recipients of DOT Federal Financial Assistance. Recipients are primarily state highway, transit, and airport agencies that receive funds subject to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations part 26 (49 CFR 26). A similar program (49 CFR 23) for airport concession DBEs (ACDBE), is mandated by 49 U.S.C. 47107(e). The DBE and ACDBE programs were most recently amended in 2024.

• Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) Technical Assistance Brochure

Federal Regulations

• DBE and ACDBE Final Rule
• DBE Program Guidance
• DBE Program Best Practices

Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Essentials

• Archived FAA Airport Recipient Compliance Review Reports
• Contact DBE, Title VI or ADA staff
• FAA Civil Rights Connect System
• FAA Matchmaker - (DBE-ACDBE National UCP Directory)
• JPB Preliminary Injunction Affecting Disadvantaged Business Program Memo
• DBE Program Guidance and Best Practices

Prompt Payment

• FY2024 Prompt Payment Complaint Assessment Report
• FY2023 Prompt Payment Complaint Assessment Report
• 2022 Annual Prompt Payment Complaint Report
• FY2022 Prompt Payment Complaint Assessment Report
• 2021 Annual Prompt Payment Complaint Report
• FY2021 Prompt Payment Complaint Assessment Report
• 2020 Annual Prompt Payment Complaint Report
• 2019 Annual Prompt Payment Complaint Report 
• Prompt Payment and Retainage Guidance
• Prompt Payment Section Sample Template

Small Business Program Element

• Small Business Program Element Announcements
• Guidance Small Business Element 7/15/2009
• Guidance Small Business Element 12/6/2011

Airport Disadvantaged Business Partners

• Airport Minority Advisory Council
• Airports Council International – North America
• American Association of Airport Executives
• Conference of Minority Transportation Officials

How to Become Certified as a DBE and/or ACDBE

About ACR

We will always take actions that challenge, assist, and support our customers to create an FAA environment where all are able to contribute meaningfully to the FAA's safety mission.

• Washington Headquarters
• Key Officials

Washington Headquarters

Every management official must provide leadership and support for agency programs, through ensuring that all programs, practices, and activities are administered in accordance with pertinent laws and agency policy.

National EEO Programs

• National Policy Compliance and Outreach
• EEO Policy and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

National External Operations and Policy Programs

• Airport Disability Compliance Program
• Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
• Airport Nondiscrimination Compliance Program
• National Airports Civil Rights Policy and Compliance
• External Complaints of Discrimination

Related Links

• Departmental Office of Civil Rights (DOCR)

• Main phone: (202) 267-3258
• Office fax: (202) 267-8341
• Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Where to Find Airport DBE Business Opportunities

The FAA provides an FAA Matchmaker System as a service to DBE and ACDBE Community. You can use this system to view bid opportunities, airport goals, training conferences, and jobs. Airports and prime/general contractors and concessionaires can use the system to post bid opportunities related to airport bids. And certified DBE/ACDBE firms can create a Matchmaker Profile to increase their visibility and to receive automated alerts of relevant bids.

To find out about airport business opportunities at specific airports, you must contact the airports that you are interested in doing business with. Most airports can be found on the Internet.

You may also contact the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) to find opportunities that airports list with them.

The FAA provides the following tools to assist you in identifying airports that do receive federal grants and that may have potential business opportunities for DBEs.

• Cumulative Approved Grants