Birch Equipment Rental and Sales announced it has received certification from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, a series of measures that seek to ensure nondiscrimination in awarding bids on federally funded transportation projects.

The certification will allow the company to work on federal DOT projects and help contractors meet mandatory participation rates established for small or disadvantaged businesses, said Birch Equipment Fleet Manager Jordan Mellich, in a Jan. 11 news release.

The Bellingham-based equipment rental and sales company is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. Birch Equipment opened its first location in 1972.

The company has stores in Bellingham, Anacortes and Mount Vernon, as well as in Sitka, Alaska. It is online at birchequipment.com.