TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 15, 2018
COMMITTEE ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Mr. John P. Murray, Acting 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 (Deferred from the November 1, 2018 Board Meeting)
Body
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 though 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, Revised Appendix D, which sets forth affirmative action goals for certain construction contracts in excess of $100,000.00. It will also be separate from the policy set forth in Appendix A, which establishes 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 Revised Appendix D or Appendix A, as applicable. The proposed policy is attached. The policy will apply to all contracts advertised on or after January 1, 2019.
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:HSW:MTC:kk
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 November 15, 2018
Attachment