TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 1, 2018
COMMITTEE ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to adopt a policy for increasing contracting opportunities with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for veteran-owned and operated small business enterprises to be designated as Appendix V
Body
Dear Sir:
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago ("District") has a long history of hiring veterans in its workforce. Employment opportunities for veterans can also be achieved through contracting with veteran-owned and operated small business enterprises. Accordingly, on November 3, 2016, the Board of Commissioners passed a Resolution supporting a District policy to ensure full and equitable contracting opportunities for military veterans of the United States. Therefore, the District will adopt a veteran-owned small business enterprise policy applicable to certain contracts with the District that are subject to the District's competitive bidding process. This policy will be separate from the District's Affirmative Action Ordinance, Appendix D, which sets forth affirmative action goals for certain construction contracts in excess of $100,000. It will also be separate from the policy set forth in Appendix A, which sets forth suggested goals for certain professional services contracts.
Appendix V will recommend that for contracts in which two or more eligible veteran-owned and operated small business enterprises are available to bid on a contract or sub-contract through the competitive bidding process, a successful bidder must meet a three-percent (3%) VBE goal. This goal will be in addition to any affirmative action goals on the contract. A bidder seeking a waiver of the goal must show a good faith effort to meet the goal. The criteria for what constitutes a small business enterprise will be consistent with the definition set forth in Appendix D.
WHEREFORE, the Board of Commissioners hereby adopts a policy that encourages contracting opportunities for veteran-owned and operated small business enterprises as set forth above.
Requested, Regina Berry, Diversity Administrator; Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, RB:STM:bh
Respectfully Submitted, Barbara J. McGowan, Chairman Committee on Affirmative Action
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for February 1, 2018