Airport Experience® News - ACDBE Issue 2026

our disadvantage status alone, but we are burdened to write a narrative that is subject to being reviewed negatively if it fails to meet a standard that was provided by the same organization that once thought race and gender mattered.” Traci Walton, co-owner of Plenty Mercantile , which operates as an ACDBE partner to Paradies Lagardère at Oklahoma City Will Rogers International Airport (OKC), says the process has been challenging due to lack of clarity on processes. “It seems as though instructions on how to implement the new requirements are being developed as they are rolling out,” Walton says. “We were told to wait for further guidance. Then, we received notifications to submit recertifications, only to be told it is not time yet because they are waiting for further instructions. Then we were notified to use only the specific form for personal narratives. Then, they notified that only the partner with the highest ownership could write the narratives, and these narratives could not include any hardship relating to race or sex. We have rewritten our personal narrative and are resubmitting it.” Griffin says the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) has done an excellent job in explaining and troubleshooting the requirements for members. But with guidance shifting and varying interpretations by individual certifying agencies, confusion is ongoing. She also notes that the narrative requirement has also taxed certifying agencies, saying, “Certifiers have never had to evaluate narratives of this nature before, and the lack of detailed guidance has made the review process challenging on their side as well.” Multi-State Reach Recertification in one’s home state is only the first step. ACDBE firms that have operations in multiple states – or who plan to seek out-of-state contracts – must be certified by the states involved. Nava Singam, CEO of Kind Hospitality Inc ., has been successfully recertified in his home state of Arizona, but he’s in a holding pattern for out-of-state approval. “What I am seeing is that every agency is working through tremendous backlogs, so any news – good or bad – isn’t being delivered rapidly, as they all have to create the new processes under the new regulations; and identify how to communicate that to all of their certified entities,” Singam says. “My experience is that priority is being given to home-state renewals. New applications are being put on the back burner along with renewals of out-of-state DBEs. Seems like this could drag on, and then if there is an update to the regulations, the certifying entities would have to reconsider their action plan, and yet again adapt to any new guidance.”

Left: Traci Walton (left) of Plenty Mercantile has experienced shifting guidelines and instructions from Oklahoma regarding the recertification process, resulting in a confusing and time consuming process.

Nabbie says the process has varied by state. “I have had certain airports where I have active contracts and was advised that I had missed my recertification date and subject to losing my certification,” he says. “I felt helpless, since I was at the mercy of waiting for my approval from my jurisdiction. It was a blessing that my jurisdiction agency was properly prepared and able to work through the process expeditiously.” Griffin says some states or certifying entities haven’t yet started the recertification process. That leaves thousands of ACDBE and DBE firms waiting and the program in flux until recertification is complete. With the lack of clarity, sources say some airports are taking a wait-and-see approach. “There have been some delays in authorities issuing new RFPs, as well as some that continue to change and postpone existing RFPs,” Singam says. “I am only involved with a handful of airports and understand that the city of Phoenix delayed releasing solicitations due to the new guidance in order to ensure that subsequent updates were accurately included in the solicitations. I see this as a positive step, as it reduces the burden of ACDBE entities from having to update or modify responses to conform to any RFP changes due to subsequent regulatory updates.” Nabbie has also seen the pullback. “I have noticed that some RFPs that we were anticipating coming forth were being put on hold without any conversations,” he says. “I’ve been involved in several opportunities that have been delayed due to the new ruling. Airports appear to be unsure of their next steps as the re-evaluation is being administered by the states. We are left unsure about what happens to the previous goals on projects, or if goals will exist in the future. I feel like we are marching in time, waiting for directions, which doesn’t help us financially.” Not only are states reacting, Griffin says the parameters of partnerships between prime concessionaires and their ACDBE partners have shifted with the removal (at least temporarily) of ACDBE participation goals. Shifting the language of those agreements “murks up the waters” for the parties involved, with the smaller firms left without set parameters and, in some cases, clear business contribution expectations. The partnership model is shifting as well. “While some primes are still honoring their commitments to ACDBE/DBE partners, we are also seeing some companies choosing to bid alone or lower the percentage [participation],” Griffin adds. Further, Griffin notes, it’s unclear as to how the ACDBE program will evolve, or even if it will remain intact. “We don’t know the state of the program – we don’t know if it’s going to go away,” she says. “We’re putting it on [the Trump] administration, but we don’t know if things are going to change in 2 1/2 years after [the term ends]. According to the law, it’s a legal program. However, challenges are out there – RFPs are being challenged, wins are being challenged. There’s a lot of uncertainty right now, and no one knows what’s next.”

Above: Nava Singam, CEO of Kind Hospitality Inc., has been successfully recertified in his home state of Arizona, but he’s in a holding pattern for out-of-state recertification.

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AX NEWS JUNE 2026