BIS Program and Local Business Preference

Business Inclusion Program

Based on the Mayor's Executive Directive 14, this program became operational on July 1, 2011. This program was implemented to widen the participation of minority, women, small and disabled veteran businesses in City contracts. It includes 6 certification categories for (1) Monirity Business Enterprise (MBE), (2) Women Business Enterprise (WBE), (3) Small Business Enterprise (SBE), (4) Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE), (5) Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and (6) Other Business Enterprise (OBE) with the following qualifications:

Qualifications for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

For-profit and independent business
Owners meet licensing requirements
Business is at least 51% owned and controlled by United States citizens or legal permanent residents who are members of the following groups: Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian-Pacific American, Subcontinent Asian American

Qualifications for Women Business Enterprise (WBE)

For-profit and independent business
Owners meet licensing requirements
Business is at least 51% owned and controlled by United States citizens or legal permanent residents who is a women

Qualifications for Small Business Enterprise (SBE)

Applicant must be certified by the State of California Department of General Services (DGS) as a Small Business (SB); OR
Applicant must be certified by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Contract Administration (BCA) as a Small Local Business (SLB)
Firm's three (3) year average gross receipts must be less than $3.0 million (for Non-Construction)
Firm's three (3) year average gross receipts must be less than $15.0 million (for Construction)

Qualifications for Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE)

Applicant must be certified by the State of California Department of General Services (DGS) as a Small Business-Micro (SB-Micro); OR
Applicant must be certified by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Contract Administration (BCA) as a Small Local Business (SLB)
Firm's three (3) year average gross receipts must be less than $3.5million.

Qualifications for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE)

Applicant must be certified by the State of California Department of General Services (DGS) as a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE).

Certification/Verification processing on these programs is done through the Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement (RAMP). Register your firm at RAMP and request certification/verification on the program/s that your firm may qualify.

Local Business Preference

This program is based on City of Los Angeles Ordinance No. 181910 - Local Business Preference Program that became effective November 28, 2011. It encourages businesses to compete for City contracting opportunities, to locate operations in the City of Los Angeles, and to encourage existing local businesses to refrain from relocating to different, less expensive area.

Qualifications for Local Business Enterprise (LBE)

Applicant must have a workspace within LA County
Applicant is in compliance with all applicable laws relating to licensing and is not delinquent on any Los Angeles City or Los Angeles County taxes
Can demonstrate:
- at least 50 of its full-time employees perform work within the boundaries of the County at least 60 percent of their total hours worked on annual basis; or
- at least half of its full-time employees work within the boundaries of the County at a minimum of 60 percent of their total regular hours worked on annual basis; or
- it is headquartered in the County of Los Angeles. Headquartered means that the business physically conducts and manages all of its operations from a location in the County.