Overview
Harris County EEO’s Vendor Diversity Department serves as a connector linking Women, Minority, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises with Harris County contracting opportunities. Harris County encourages equal opportunity for all businesses and individuals in the Harris County marketplace. The Harris County Commissioners Court established the program in November 2020 and charged the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity with administering the program in direct response to a disparity study conducted by Colette Holt & Associates. The study analyzed Harris County’s contracting practices and found that only 9% of the county’s contracting dollars went towards M/WBEs though these firms made up 28% of the available market. As a result, Harris County has an overall, Annual Aspirational Goal of 30% of total spending for MWDBE participation on County contracts
Harris County is committed to mitigating the inequities of the past and present for Women, Minority, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.
M/WBE Program Resources
The Vendor Diversity Department’s M/WBE Program Objectives:
- Ensure non-discrimination in the award and administration of Harris County Contracts.
- Create a level playing field on which M/WBEs can compete fairly for Harris County Contracts.
- Ensure that the M/WBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law.
- Ensure that only firms that are Certified by approved M/WBE certifying agencies are permitted to participate as M/WBEs.
- Help to remove barriers to the participation of M/WBEs in Harris County funded Contracts.
- Assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the M/WBE Program.
The Vendor Diversity Department’s responsibilities include:
- Monitor M/WBE participation and payments reported to listed M/WBE firms as well as payments confirmed by M/WBEs (Minority and Women Business Enterprise) and DBEs.
- Review and provide recommendations for all change/modification requests to the County contract’s M/WBE participation.
- Conduct site visits to ensure listed M/WBE vendors are performing a CUF (Commercially Useful Function) as required per the Harris County M/WBE policy.
- Evaluate the Contractor’s Good Faith Efforts by emphasizing quality quantity and intensity when soliciting opportunities to M/WDBEs and throughout the partnership with the said M/WDBE(s) for the duration of the County contract.
Certifications Recognized
Harris County does not possess a certifying agency. Instead we recognize several certifications from certifying agencies for M/WBE credit. On June 25, 2024, Commissioners Court approved the expansion of Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certification agencies to include:
- National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
- Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC)
- Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA)
Harris County accepts the certifications from the agencies below for M/WBE credit:
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Certifying Agency
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DBE
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HUB
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MBE
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WBE
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SBA 8(a)
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City of Houston
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X
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X
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X
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X
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State of Texas Comptroller’s Office
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X
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|
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U.S. Small Business Administration
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|
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X
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City of Austin- TUCP
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X
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|
|
|
|
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Corpus Christi- TUCP
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X
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|
|
|
|
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North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency- TUCP
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X
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|
|
|
|
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South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency- TUCP
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X
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|
|
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Texas Department of Transportation- TUCP
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X
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|
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National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
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|
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X
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Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC)
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X
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X
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Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
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|
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X
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Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA)
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|
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X
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M/WBE firms must be certified at the time of proposal or bid submissions for each solicitation. Pending certification statuses will not be accepted for M/WBE goal credit.
Additionally, certified M/WBE firms must have a Significant Local Presence (SLP):
- To establish a SLP, a firm must have a location in the market area of Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, or Galveston counties in Texas.
- If the M/WBE does not have a location in the counties above, documentation MUST be provided demonstrating that it has performed on at least three (3) contracts or subcontracts, in the market area within the last three (3) years.
- A location utilized solely as a post office box, mailbox, or telephone message center, or any combination thereof, with no substantial work function, shall not be construed as a Significant Local Presence.
Businesses interested in pursuing M/WBE certification can find more information and application details on each organization’s website. For more information, please contact:
Sourcing Requests
As a courtesy service, DEEO is making available searches of M/WBE firms that have active M/WBE certifications to assist in the sourcing process. To request a list of available M/WBEs within a specific industry or scope of work, visit the M/WBE Sourcing Request link (NAICS or NIGP codes are required). Requests may take up to five (5) business days to process.
* Please be advised that use of this search function does not imply DEEO’s endorsement or preference for the use of provided M/WBEs on a contract nor does the produced list speak to a M/WBE’s performance or ability to perform.
Resources
Utilization Reports