Handbook of Operating Procedures 3-1040

Policy on Contracting with Minority and Female-Owned Small Business Firms



The University of Texas at Austin

Effective January 01, 1991
Executive Sponsor: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Policy Owner: Assistant Vice President for Accounting

 

 

The 71st Legislature added provisions to the Texas Education Code (see Sec. 61.0571) to require that institutions of higher education establish policies to encourage and assist minority and female-owned small businesses in bidding for contracts and open market purchases.

 

To comply with these provisions and to bring uniformity to the procedures of The University of Texas System for contracting with minorities and female-owned small businesses, the Board adopted the Policy on Contracting with Minority and Female-Owned Small Business Firms.

 

  1. Policy

 

It is the policy of The University to encourage minority and female-owned small businesses to bid on contracts and open market purchases and to assist those businesses in that bidding.

 

This policy applies to all procurement and contract activities of The University of Texas System and component institutions, including auxiliary enterprises.

 

"Minority or female-owned small businesses" means a business enterprise:

 

  1. That is independently owned and operated, formed for the purpose of making a profit, and has fewer than 100 employees or less than $1,000,000 in annual gross receipts.

 

  1. At least 51% of which is owned or controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged persons who are socially disadvantaged because of their identification as members of certain groups, including women, black Americans, Mexican-Americans and other Americans of Hispanic origin, Asian Americans, and American Indians.

 

  1. Responsibilities

 

  1. The Vice President for Business Affairs is responsible for administering this policy.

 

  1. The Purchasing Office is responsible for preparing, publishing and distributing information about procurement procedures to comply with this policy.

 

  1. The Purchasing Office maintains lists of minority and female-owned small businesses. These lists are available to heads of each office, department, division, laboratory or project. In the case of consultants and professional services, it is the responsibility of the applicable departments to develop lists of minority and female-owned small businesses capable of providing the required services.

 

  1. The Purchasing Office is responsible for preparing all required reports to The University of Texas System and to State and Federal agencies.

 

  1. In regard to any supplies, materials, services or equipment which are not required to be purchased through the Purchasing Office, each unit head will be responsible for complying with the procedure established for this policy.

 

Previously HOP 6.43