Employees

Purchasing Items

Small Business Development Policy

A. OVERVIEW

The Lee College District Small Business Development Program will provide better value in procurement efforts because it will foster competition and help avoid discrimination. It will increase procurement opportunities for small businesses, underutilized businesses and disadvantaged businesses. A “small business concern” (Small Business) under this Program is defined to be one that is independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation and which meets size standard set forth in 13 CFR, Part 121. The definition shall vary from industry to industry to the extent necessary to properly reflect industry differences. The Program will:

1. Provide a small business outreach program that will strive to increase procurement opportunities with small, disadvantaged and underutilized businesses;
2. Require that contractors make good faith efforts to utilize small business subcontractors; Subcontract requirements will vary per contract based on the type of industry and will not exceed 25%.
3. Provide technical assistance and design procurements that encourage the participation of small, underutilized and disadvantaged businesses; and
4. Achieve an average small business participation goal of twenty-five percent (25%). The goal may vary from year to year and vary from industry to industry based on the type of goods and services procured.

Lee College District shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender and disability in the selection of vendors and shall prohibit vendors from such discrimination in the selection of subcontractors and vendor’s employees. Lee College District may immediately terminate or disqualify from future contracts a contractor who engages in such discriminatory practices.

B. CERTIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to participate in the Lee College District Small Business Development Program, firms must have a valid and current certifications as a Small Business Administration (8a) Firm; Historically Underutilized Businesses, Minority and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises issued by:

• U.S. Small Business Administration
• Texas Department of Commerce
• City Of Houston
• Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
• Texas Department of Transportation
• Any other entity authorized to issue such certifications, such as, North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency and U. S. state agencies

NOTE: Certifications must be updated every three years.