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Section 503.01 Policies and Procedures Manual

Section 503.02

Section 503.03

A. In consideration of the right and privilege to submit a bid or proposal on construction projects and other contracts with Cuyahoga County, at the time of submitting a proposal or bid, each participant shall be required to present appropriate documentation. The documents described below must be completed and signed by each Participant before a proposal or bid can be considered responsive:

1. Covenant of Non-Discrimination: Each Participant must submit a duly executed and attested Covenant of Non-Discrimination (MBE/WBE-1) on a form prescribed by the Department of Equity and Inclusion. This written instrument shall contain promises, declarations and/or affirmations made by the Participant. The completed document must contain an original signature and date of signature.
2. MBE/WBE Subcontractor Participation Plan: Each Participant must submit a duly executed, affirmed, and certified Subcontractor Participation Plan (MBE/WBE-2) on a form prescribed by the Department of Equity and Inclusion for each MBE/WBE subcontractor proposed. Copies and/or facsimiles of MBE/WBE-2 submitted with bids/proposals are acceptable BUT all required signatures must be dated as indicated. Also, please note the following:
   a. Certified MBE/WBEs who are bidding as prime contractors MUST complete and submit the top portion of Form MBE/WBE-2 to guarantee MBE/WBE credit.
   b. MBE/WBEs with multiple geographical locations shall enter the Cuyahoga County address and contact information on Form MBE/WBE-2.
   c. Prime vendors are PROHIBITED from using MBE/WBE(s) with whom the prime vendor has a familial relationship, joint or co-ownership, common partners, officers, or a shareholder relationship to meet the MBE/WBE Participation Goal. Hence, on Cuyahoga County projects/contracts, any portion of work subcontracted to a MBE/WBE vendor by a prime vendor that meets the above-mentioned criteria will NOT count towards the achievement of the established MBE/WBE Participation Goal.

B. Use of 2nd Tier Subcontractors: In the event that a subcontractor portions out work and utilizes the services of a sub-subcontractor or vendor, the prime contractor shall be required to report this use to the Department of Equity and Inclusion. For reporting purposes, the prime contractor shall report statistical data for the sub-subcontractor or sub-vendor, including race, gender, business size, area of specialization, dollar value, description of services or products purchased, and contact information. No MBE/WBE subcontractor will be permitted to subcontract more than 25% of their subcontract work (based on dollar value) without prior approval by the Department of Equity and Inclusion.

C. Other Information and Data: The Department of Equity and Inclusion may request additional information and data prior to a contract award. This information may include, but is not limited to, information regarding business ownership of all subcontractors to be utilized on the project, all of which shall reflect the race, gender, location, size, and area of specialization and structure of the identified businesses.

Aggressive “Good Faith Efforts” to include MBE/WBEs in the procurement process are required of all Participants. These Good Faith Efforts should be in addition to the Participant’s regular and customary solicitation process of contact with potential subcontractors and/or vendors.

D. Written Notice to MBE/WBEs: To demonstrate good faith efforts, a Participant shall deliver written or electronic notice to potential, MBE/WBEs. MBE/WBEs should be contacted not less than one (1) week before the bid or proposal due date. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers for available MBE/WBEs may be obtained by contacting the Department of Equity and Inclusion or reviewing the database on the Department of Purchasing website.

The written or electronic notice sent to potential subcontractors or vendors shall contain the following:

1. Sufficient information about the plans, specifications, and relevant terms and conditions of the solicitation. This should include information about the work which will be subcontracted or the goods which will be obtained from subcontractors and suppliers;
2. A contact person knowledgeable of the project scope documents, within the Participant’s office, to answer questions about the conditions of the contract;
3. Information as to the Participant’s bonding requirements; and
4. The deadline for price quotations.

E. Evaluation of Good Faith Efforts: In evaluating good faith efforts, the Department of Equity and Inclusion will determine whether the Participant has made reasonable good faith efforts to obtain MBE/WBE participation as part of its bid or proposal. The Department of Equity and Inclusion may evaluate not only the different kinds of efforts made by a Participant, but also the quantity and intensity of those efforts. One method of evaluation will be whether the MBE/WBE goal has been met. Prime Contractors and any Participant herein shall be required to affirm and certify that information is correct in their bid/proposal and that they will meet or exceed the MBE/WBE Subcontractor Plan submitted with their bid/proposal. Prime Contractors also shall be required to report statistical data for its employees and proposed subcontractors that include race, gender, business size, area of specialization, dollar value, description of services or products purchased and contact information. Such information shall be certified and affirmed by the Prime Contractor when it submits the bid/proposal.

The Department of Equity and Inclusion will consider a completed Good Faith Effort Certification (MBE/WBE-3) as evidence of a Participant’s good faith in trying to obtain MBE/WBE participation in a bid or proposal.

F. Required Documentation: To demonstrate good faith efforts, Participants shall keep detailed records of all correspondence and responses thereto, logs of all telephone calls made and received regarding the project or contract, confirmation receipts for fax transmissions, receipts from registered or certified mail, copies of advertisements in publications and other media, and other relevant papers required by this Program.

G. Good Faith Effort Certification: Participant must submit a completed Good Faith Certification (MBE/WBE-3) ONLY if the MBE/WBE Participation Goal is not met. In the MBE/WBE-3 form, Participant must certify that it interviewed and seriously considered MBE/WBEs and provide supporting documentation of that fact. Additional documentation demonstrating a good faith effort must accompany this document. The completed document must contain an original signature, notarizations, and date of signature.

H. Award of Contract: Proposals/ bids may be rejected and projects re-submitted for the sole purpose of attaining goals where inadequate “good faith effort” has been demonstrated. Cuyahoga County reserves the right to determine the action to be taken on the contract if a goal is not met, including rejecting any or all bids or proposals. If an awarded contract is later amended for additional dollars, MBE/WBE subcontractor participation should still reflect the percentage of dollars originally contracted for.

When evaluating a bid to determine the lowest and best bid, the County may consider, in addition to all of the other factors, whether a bid is MBE/WBE compliant; provided, however, that such MBE/WBE compliance shall not be considered if the difference between the MBE/WBE-compliant bid and the lowest responsive bid is more than the price preference specified below.

Section 503.04

All participants are subject to the Monitoring and Post-Award Reporting, Grievance Process, Sanctions and Penalties for Non-Compliance provisions of Cuyahoga County Code Section 503.01.

(Ordinance No. O2016-0005, Enacted 4/26/2016, Effective 4/27/2016)

Section 503.05

A. Exclusions. This policy shall not apply to the following:

1. “Sole Source” procurements under the Cuyahoga County ordinances which by their very nature limit the source of supply to one vendor.
2. County purchases from political subdivisions/government entities;
3. County purchases off state contracts, off federal contracts, and from joint purchasing programs.
4. The acquisition of any interest in real property including lease holdings.
5. Direct and indirect employee payments including payroll expenditures, pensions and unemployment compensation and other employee-related expenditures;
6. Any other categories and subcategories of goods and services Cuyahoga County may from time to time establish as excluded contracts upon recommendation of the Director of the Department of Purchasing and approval by the Cuyahoga County Executive and Cuyahoga County Council.

B. Application for Waiver. If the Contractor, consultant, supplier or vendor does not meet the project goal, the bidder or offer or may seek a partial or total waiver of the project goal. The application for waiver of all or part of the project goal shall include full documentary evidence of the Participant’s good faith efforts to meet the project goal and why the request for waiver should be granted. The application shall be notarized and submitted as a part of the bid or offer. Additional explanation, affidavits, exhibits or other materials may be required by the MBE/WBE Program to substantiate good faith efforts. Waivers may also be granted by the Department of Equity and Inclusion for an acceptable explanation as to why the goals should be waived.

C. Waiver for Detriment to Public Health, Safety or Financial Welfare. The MBE/WBE goal may be waived if the same causes a detriment to public health, safety or the financial welfare of the County. The MBE/WBE may also be waived by the Department of Equity and Inclusion in the event available MBE/WBEs provide price quotes which are unreasonably high in that they exceed competitive levels beyond amounts which can be attributed to cost, overhead and profit.

(Ordinance Nos. O2021-0008, Enacted 5/25/2021, Effective 5/25/2021; O2016-0005, Enacted 4/26/2016, Effective 4/27/2016)

Section 503.06

Section 503.07

Section 503.08 Small Business Set Asides