The 49er Diversity Manual for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program was designed to educate Elected Officials, their appointees and employees, general contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, brokers and the everyday tax paying citizen. The information contained in this manual was sourced directly from The Department of Transportation (DOT) to help recipients better comply with 49 CFR Part 26, the DOT DBE rule. Part 26 was published in the Federal Register on February 2, 1999, and it became effective March 4 (64 F.R. 5096). Extensive revisions was made to DOT's DBE program, formally administered under 49 CFR Part 23. The information provided in this manual supersedes guidance issued by the operation administrations under former part 23. It does not address the separate DBE program for airport concessionaires, which continues to be administered in accordance with 49 CFR Part 23.