TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JULY 16, 2020
COMMITTEE ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Authority to adopt a policy for increasing opportunities with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for small business enterprises that are owned and operated by persons with disabilities to be designated as “BEPD Policy” (As Revised)
Body
Dear Sir:
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (“District”) has a long history of engaging in outreach and increasing opportunities to assist small business enterprises that are owned and operated by minorities, women, and veterans. The District adopts a BEPD policy that will be a separate policy from Appendix D, which sets forth affirmative action goals for minority- and women-owned business enterprises for certain construction contracts; Appendix A, which establishes suggested affirmative action goals for minority- and women-owned business enterprises for certain professional services contracts; and Appendix V, which establishes suggested goals for veteran-owned businesses enterprises in certain construction and professional services contracts.
The policy will expand outreach programs by inviting BEPD organizations and enterprises to attend District vendor fairs, events, meetings, and other District-sponsored activities for the purpose of sharing its vast knowledge, experience, and resources with those business enterprises while also fostering connections with other organizations that represent the BEPD community. The policy will also establish data collection procedures to gather information relating to BEPDs operating in the District’s service area by using contract-related forms to allow business owners to voluntarily identify as BEPD. The District will also explore an appropriate certification process for BEPD vendors guided by the District’s certification process under Revised Appendix D.
After each year of engaging in outreach as well as tracking and compiling data, designated staff will report to the Board of Commissioners on the results of those efforts. Thereafter, following five (5) years of outreach and data collection, designated staff will prepare a report to the Board of Commissioners for consideration at a study session that discusses the compiled data. A copy of the policy is attached. This policy is effective upon adoption.
Wherefore, the Board of Commissioners hereby adopts a policy for increasing opportunities for BEPDs by establishing expanded outreach and data collection as set forth above.
Requested, Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:JTM:MTC:nl
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 July 16, 2020
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