City Of Austin Launches Pilot Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program

The City of Austin launches an interim Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE) program on October 1, 2017.

The City of Austin launches an interim Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE) program on October 1, 2017. The pilot program provides preference points to SDVBEs who are certified as a Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) with the State of Texas when submitting a response to Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitations.

The interim program is a result of Resolution No 20160303-016 that was passed by City Council on March 3, 2016. The Resolution directed the City Manager to enhance contracting opportunities for ready, willing and able Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses on City Contracts.

The interim program as established will allow SDVBEs to receive three percent (3%) preference points on RFP solicitations. For example, if the total value of the points available in the RFP evaluation is 100, then a SDVBE prime firm would receive 3 points.

In order to receive consideration for the program, a SDVBE must be a prime contractor or consultant, be certified as a HUB by the State of Texas, and be a registered vendor with the City.

Staff will confirm certification during the proposal evaluation process and apply the 3% to the total score when applicable. The preference points will be applied completely or not at all.

The interim SVDBE program will be led by the Purchasing Office and supported by the Capital Contracting Office, the Small & Minority Business Resources and the Law Departments.

The City will operate the interim program for 24 months to allow time to evaluate certification options, implement IT system changes, develop process knowledge, and collect information related to best practices before returning to Austin City Council with recommendations for a long-term program solution.