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Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of firms are listed in the directory and how do I know I’m getting to see a complete list of available firms to choose from?.
Almost every conceivable discipline in the AEC industry, plus related support services can be listed in the DMWBE Directory. Unlike other directories we don’t charge exorbitant rates to be listed, in fact any firm can be listed for free and even with a free listing you will still be able to determine the firm’s primary and speciality discipline (such as design as the primary discipline and MEP consulting engineer as the speciality). Additionally all contact information is shown, as are direct web and email links. Of course we prefer our listing firms to provide more detailed information with an expanded listing, but they are under no obligation to do so. We also don’t depend on listing firms finding us and signing up. We regularly seek out and input base data from a variety of sources and enter these firms in the system – and contact them in order to have them verify and update their information. We’re still new and we haven’t yet listed every DMWBE firm yet – but we’re sure going to try!
What is the best way to search for a DMWBE partner through the Directory?
The choice is yours, you can browse a broad category such as “construction” or "California" or you can narrow your search down to specialized disciplines with specific experience in an exact location. If you are putting a team together and want a DMWBE component you can, for example, select WBE firms where the project is located. You can also prioritize your search for the ideal candidate such as a MBE or WBE landscape architect with university experience in a city – or broaden your search to the surrounding states. We’re adding new listings at a rapid pace, so if you don’t find the match you want this time – try us again on your next few projects and we might have more for you to review. Please also tell your current DMWBE partners about us so they can sign up – after all, it’s FREE.
How do I register to use the DMWBE Directory website?
Almost every conceivable discipline in the AEC industry, plus related support services can be listed in the DMWBE Directory. Unlike other directories we don’t charge exorbitant rates to be listed, in fact any firm can be listed for free and even with a free listing you will still be able to determine the firm’s primary and speciality discipline (such as design as the primary discipline and MEP consulting engineer as the speciality). Additionally all contact information is shown, as are direct web and email links. Of course we prefer our listing firms to provide more detailed information with an expanded listing, but they are under no obligation to do so. We also don’t depend on listing firms finding us and signing up. We regularly seek out and input base data from a variety of sources and enter these firms in the system – and contact them in order to have them verify and update their information. We’re still new and we haven’t yet listed every DMWBE firm yet – but we’re sure going to try!
What is the best way to search for a DMWBE partner through the Directory?
The choice is yours, you can browse a broad category such as “construction” or "California" or you can narrow your search down to specialized disciplines with specific experience in an exact location. If you are putting a team together and want a DMWBE component you can, for example, select WBE firms where the project is located. You can also prioritize your search for the ideal candidate such as a MBE or WBE landscape architect with university experience in a city – or broaden your search to the surrounding states. We’re adding new listings at a rapid pace, so if you don’t find the match you want this time – try us again on your next few projects and we might have more for you to review. Please also tell your current DMWBE partners about us so they can sign up – after all, it’s FREE.
How do I register to use the DMWBE Directory website?
You don’t, you just use it – we suggest you bookmark the site or right click on your mouse and create a shortcut to your desktop. No passwords, no user names, no anything! Note also that our site has no animation, no intro pages and not a lot of navigation requirements – the DMWBE site is designed for busy individuals that have to make decisions and need information now!
How did you determine the Directory’s experience categories, some of them seem redundant such as “HVAC” and “heating, ventilating and air conditioning”?
We wanted to use AEC industry standards hence we lifted most of the experience categories from the federal SF-330 form (formerly the SF-255/254) architect/engineer questionnaire – qualification document. These categories cover just about every type of construction and are applicable to both design and construction. Additionally we added a few more of what might be considered typical “other” selections. Then, and this answers the redundant question, we incorporated the original abbreviated 16 CSI divisions to cover construction activities, we denoted these categories by putting them in ALL CAPS. We did not figure a CM company developing a bid list would want to sift through a lot of design firms to find an HVAC sub-contractor; nor would an owner looking to study their HVAC system need a list of sub-contractors when they were looking for a consulting engineer or A/E firm. See also the guides listed in the next section.
The DMWBE Directory has a lot of choices and information that I can search through – I need to find the right consultants for my team. I’m in a hurry and have a million things on my desk HELP!
We know, we’ve been at the copy machine at 1:00AM
trying to get that big proposal out the door! Perhaps these guides can help; there are also links to these guides at strategic locations on the site. We suggest you print them out and post or file them in your office for easy reference.
SF-330 and OTHER Experience
What is Quick List? How do I access it and how do I use it? Oh and what are those little icons for at the top of some listings?
Quick List is another DMWBE tool designed to keep your search organized. When you are going though a search, you will probably make some selections, then try other variables, you may even be looking for more than one firm and for more than one project. All listings that are not basic listings have a file folder icon at the top, if the firm you are reviewing is one you want to consider or go back to later on, click on the file folder to build a Quick List to which you can refer (you can’t save the list on our site but you can save the page on your computer for future reference as long as cookies are enabled). The other icons provide the ability to print a listing without those annoying extra pages and cutoff words, provide a Google map if you need to identify location and an email link so you can send copies of the candidate firms to your project team for their review.