Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
JULY 22, 2021
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS SOLIS, BUTTS, NAJARIAN, DUPONT-WALKER, AND SANDOVAL
Developing a Business Utilization Scorecard to Encourage DBE, SBE and DVBE Participation
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, making up over 90% of businesses in Los Angeles County. Over the last year, our small business community has seen disproportionate impacts caused by the pandemic. The County has lost more than 400,000 jobs and saw 7,500 small businesses permanently close as a result of local, state and federal public health orders. As the County begins recovering from the pandemic, Metro can utilize its resources to re-invigorate the business community.
During any contract solicitation preparation process, Metro staff considers whether or not to establish a Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise participation goal based on various factors such as funding type (local, state or federal) and availability of subcontracting opportunities. When these participation goals are established, they become a mandatory condition of award and awardees are expected to meet or exceed their participation goals over the duration of the contract. On U.S. Dot funded contracts with Disadvantaged Business goals, it is understood that Metro, by law, is required to consider good faith efforts to meet goals. Additionally, the Board does not have data available for primes and/or first-tier sub-contractors that have previously contracted with Metro to assess how often awardees actually meet their Small, Disadvantaged and/or Disabled Veteran business utilization commitments. Developing a business utilization scorecard framework for all primes and first-tier sub-contractors doing business with Metro can encourage more small, disadvantaged, and disabled veteran-owned business participation and provide transparency on whether or not awardees have historically honored their participation commitments...
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