Purchasing Division

Minority Outreach

To obtain certification or to see a listing of certified minority and woman-owned businesses, contact the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses. http://www.doa.state.nc.us/hub/

Catawba County's Minority and Small Business
Participation Outreach Plan

1. Work with minority-focused and small business groups that support MBE and small business inclusion in the solicitation of bids. These groups include the CVCC Small Business Development Center and the Small Business Technology Center.

2. Place more emphasis on the importance of soliciting certified MBE firms and small businesses for subcontracting opportunities at pre-bid conferences and in the bid documents. Examine specifications to identify special subcontracting opportunities and strongly encourage prime contractors to solicit bids for subcontracts from MBE firms.

3. Provide detailed information to majority contractors concerning the Guidelines for Recruitment and Selection of Minority Business and Outreach Plan and provide information on G.S. 143-129 by holding meetings with the contractors.

4. Assess the effectiveness of the MBE Program, and identify opportunities to enhance it, by evaluating MBE participation and compliance and reviewing the "good faith efforts" provided in bid packages.

5. Identify subcontracting opportunities unique to each construction contract and project and concentrate heavily on targeting certified MBE firms and small businesses that have expressed an interest in Catawba County projects. Identify these opportunities and contact interested businesses no later than 10 days prior to the bid opening and provide a list of prime contractors plan to participate in the project.

6. Build new business relationships through networking and continue networking with other North Carolina cities and counties to find out how their Outreach Program and MBE program is working and sharing "best practices" and ideas to improve the program.

7. Participate in education opportunities throughout the community as they become available and offer training sessions to share the County's Outreach Plan with interested businesses and organizations.

8. Be visible through participation in trade shows and business organizations of interest to MBE firms, majority contractors and small businesses, and provide information to the general public about the MBE Program, and continue outreach efforts to the business community.

9. Enhance the County's web page by including the Outreach Plan and Guidelines, listing good faith efforts, and creating links to MBE resources, and creating awareness of specific subcontracting opportunities.

10. Make available to minority-focused agencies, a list of subcontracting opportunities when they are identified, no later than 10 days prior to the bid opening, and a list of prime bidders that subcontractors may wish to contact for subcontracting consideration.

11. Continue to maintain a database specifically for MBE firms and majority contractors to ensure those firms wishing to do business with Catawba County have access to up to date information.

12. Advertise upcoming bid opportunities in minority-focused media.

13. Work with architects and engineers to make subcontracting opportunities more noticeable and more easily understood by potential contractors and subcontractors.