Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Department Head/Elected Official: Estella Gonzalez
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Discussion Item
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity for discussion and possible action on expanding the list of accepted Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certifying agencies to include those from non-governmental entities that may require a fee for certification to increase the pool of certified M/WBEs for Harris County procurement.
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Background and Discussion:
The Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity (DEEO) does not function as a certifying agency and cannot issue M/WBE certifications. Instead, DEEO relies on certification agencies such as the City of Houston, the State of Texas Comptroller's Office, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Texas Unified Certification Program to certify vendors. The type of certifications the County can accept is outlined in the M/WBE Policy passed at Commissioners Court on November 10, 2020, before the DEEO began operations.
At the May 7, 2024, Commissioners Court meeting, members discussed the timeline for M/WBEs to get certified via the County's current list of acceptable certifying agencies. The court requested that DEEO come back to the Court with recommendations for potentially increasing the number of certifying agencies the County accepts to increase the availability of M/WBEs in our market area.
DEEO has completed its research and recommends that the Court expand its certifying agencies for M/WBEs to include the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC), Women's...
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