DBE Recertification
Personal Narrative Guide
Your personal narrative is the most important document in your recertification packet. It is where you prove, in your own words, that you faced real barriers that cost you real money or opportunity.
The Three Accepted Categories
Your incidents must fall into one or more of these categories. GDOT only evaluates experiences within them.
Education
Limited access to quality schools, guidance, or mentorship. Denial of equal access to higher education. Exclusion from professional associations. Social pressures that pushed you away from professional or business education.
Employment
Unequal treatment in hiring, promotions, pay, or benefits. Limited advancement opportunities. Discriminatory or retaliatory behavior by an employer. Social pressures that channeled you away from professional or business fields.
Business History
Unequal access to credit or capital. Financing on commercially unfavorable terms. Unequal treatment on government contracts or from customers, business partners, or professional organizations. Difficulty gaining credibility with lenders, suppliers, or prime contractors.
The Required 6-Part Structure
GDOT's instructions require this structure for every incident you describe. Follow it exactly.
When
State the date or time period. Exact dates are preferred but not required. Incidents can be from any period of your life.
Where
Identify the specific location or institution. The incident must have occurred within American society.
Who
Name the person or organization involved. Individual names are preferred but not required.
What
Describe exactly what happened. What was said. What was denied. What unfair condition was put on you.
Why
Explain why you believe this was a systemic barrier, not just a bad situation. A simple statement is not enough — you need specific facts that point to the barrier.
How
Explain the economic harm. Lost revenue, delayed career, reduced savings. Put numbers to it. Offensive comments alone are not enough — there must be a real economic impact.
Writing Rules
- ✓ Write in your own words. The narrative must be written by the owner whose disadvantage is being claimed.
- ✓ Type it and submit as a Word document or PDF. Handwritten narratives will be returned.
- ✓ Be specific. Vague statements do not meet the standard.
- ✓ Support every incident with at least one document: denial letter, email, rejection notice, bank statement, job posting.
- ✓ Quantify the harm whenever possible. Dollars and time frames make your case credible.
- ✓ End with the required certification statement, signed and dated, with your business name.
- ✗ Do NOT mention race, ethnicity, or sex as the reason. Describe what happened and what it cost you.
- ✗ Do NOT write about family history or industry-wide observations — only your own experiences.
- ✗ Do NOT exaggerate. False statements can result in decertification and legal consequences.
Required Certification Statement
End your narrative with this exact language:
"I certify that the information provided in this narrative is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief."
Then add: your full name, title, business name, and date.
Common Mistakes That Get Flagged
Every pattern below will generate a deficiency notice, a request for more information, or a denial. Make sure your narrative has none of these.
No dates, no names, no evidence
If GDOT cannot verify a single claim because there are no dates, locations, or named individuals, the narrative will be rejected.
Company-focused instead of owner-focused
GDOT evaluates the individual owner's personal experiences, not the company's history. Writing "our company" throughout will be flagged.
Impressions instead of facts
"Felt like" and "seemed to" are impressions. GDOT evaluates verifiable facts — specific incidents with specific details.
Incident present, but no documented economic harm
An incident without quantified economic impact will not support a disadvantage claim. What was the contract worth? How did losing it affect the business?
What to do next
- Make sure you have gathered all required documents before writing.
- After writing, run the Self-Audit Scorecard to check for gaps.
- Ready to submit? Use the Pre-Submission Checklist for a final review.
- Have an account? Go to your dashboard to draft your narrative with AI assistance.