This Section is responsible for administering the rules and regulations governing the City of Los Angeles Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE), Disabled Veteran-Business Enterprise (DVBE), and all Other Business Enterprise (OBE) Business Inclusion Program (BIP) for Public Works contracts, established by Mayor’s Executive Directive 14 (ED14- Villaraigosa Series).
This Program requires all respondents to Public Works Request for Bids (RFB), Request for Proposals (RFP), and Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on City-funded projects to perform a subcontractor/ subconsultant outreach to available MBE/WBE/SBE/EBE/DVBE/OBE firms who could potentially perform a scope of work(s) required in the respective RFB, RFP, RFQ.
As proof of their outreach efforts, a respondent is required to fulfill the BIP Outreach requirements on RAMPLA as defined in the bid/ proposal specifications.
On the majority of Public Works projects, BIP Outreach is evaluated by this Section. Upon award of a contract, the Section monitors the contractor/ proposer to ensure the utilization of the subcontractors/ subconsultants pledged in the bid/ proposal.
Additionally, upon completion of a contract, the Section recommends penalties for unauthorized subcontractor substitutions, unapproved reductions in subcontract amounts, and utilization of unapproved subcontractors.
The Section is also responsible for administering the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program for Federally-funded projects in the Department of Public Works. When the City pursues any Federal Dept. of Transportation (DOT) funding for a project, the DBE Program must be adhered to as a condition of receiving DOT funding & reimbursements.
Respondents to RFBs, RFPs, & RFQs with DBE Program requirements must adhere to the DBE rules & regulations as defined in the bid/ proposal specifications. The Section is responsible for evaluating a respondent's bid or proposal to determine its pledged DBE participation level as it relates to a project's DBE goal. The Section then monitors the contract to verify continuing compliance with Program requirements like subcontractor participation, substitution, and prompt payment. The Section is also responsible for recommending penalty assessments against contractors failing to comply with any of those requirements.
For further information regarding the BIP Outreach or DBE Program, e-mail the Section at bca.biphelp@lacity.org.