Proposal Language for QBE Contract
(Department of Purchasing Invest-Build Project from 2019)
QUALIFIED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (2-1-19) SP P32
The purpose of this Special Provision is to carry out the Department of Purchasing's policy of ensuring nondiscrimination in the award and administration of contracts financed in whole or in part with Federal funds. This provision is guided by 54 CFR Part 3.
The following QBE goal for participation by Qualified Business Enterprises is established for this contract:
Qualified Business Enterprises 11%
This goal is to be met through utilization of construction contractors and/or right-of-way acquisition firms. Utilization of QBE firms performing design, other preconstruction services, or construction engineering and inspection are not included in this goal.
Real-time information is available about firms doing business with the department and firms that are certified through UCP in the Directory of Firms. Only firms identified in the directory as QBE certified shall be used to meet the QBE goal. The directory can be found at the following link: https://partner.example.com/VendorDirectory/default.html.
The listing of an individual firm in the directory shall not be construed as an endorsement of the firm's capability to perform certain work.
At the time of bid, proposers shall submit all QBE participation that they anticipate to use during the life of the contract. Only those identified to meet the QBE goal will be considered committed, even though the listing shall include both committed QBE subcontractors and additional QBE subcontractors. Additional QBE subcontractor participation submitted at the time of bid will be used toward the department's overall race-neutral goal. Only those firms with current QBE certification at the time of Price Proposal opening will be acceptable for listing in the proposer's submittal of QBE participation. The invest-build team shall indicate the following required information:
Blank forms will not be deemed to represent zero participation. Price Proposals submitted that do not have QBE participation indicated on the appropriate form will not be read publicly during the opening of the Price Proposals.
The proposer shall submit written documentation for each QBE that will be used to meet the QBE goal of the contract, indicating the proposer's commitment to use the QBE in the contract. This documentation shall be submitted on the department's form titled Letter of Intent.
The documentation shall be received in the office of the Contractor Utilization Engineer or at QBE@example.com no later than 12:00 noon of the sixth calendar day following opening of Price Proposals, unless the sixth day falls on an official state holiday. In that situation, it is due in the office of Contractor Utilization Engineer no later than 12:00 noon on the next official state business day.
If the proposer fails to submit the Letter of Intent from each committed QBE to be used toward the QBE goal, or if the form is incomplete (i.e., both signatures are not present), the QBE participation will not count toward meeting the QBE goal. If the lack of this participation drops the commitment below the QBE goal, the invest-build team shall submit evidence of good faith efforts, completed in its entirety, to the Contractor Utilization Engineer or QBE@example.com no later than 12:00 noon on the eighth calendar day following opening of the Price Proposals, unless the eighth day falls on an official state holiday. In that situation, it is due in the office of the Contractor Utilization Engineer no later than 12:00 noon on the next official state business day.
, Department of Purchasing, Invest Build Project Office