§ 17-323. Credit program.

The county may establish a credit program whereby contractors are awarded credits to be applied toward meeting the minority/women business enterprise requirements on certain county bids/proposals. The credits earned may be applied to subsequent county bids/proposals.

(1)

Non-county utilization credit. This credit may be earned, awarded and applied for the use of certified minority/women business enterprises on private sector projects not involving governmental funding, and government projects that do not have mandated minority/women business enterprise participation goals or programs. The compliance officer shall report to the board within eighteen (18) months on what impact, if any, the application of this credit has had on the utilization of certified minority/women business enterprises.

(2)

Minority and women employee recruitment and training credit. This credit may be earned, awarded and applied to contractors who establish and utilize structured, internal minority and women scholarship, recruitment and training programs. These programs must be pre-approved, and may be monitored by the compliance officer before credit can be earned, awarded and applied.

(3)

First-time minority/women business enterprise utilization credit. This credit may be earned, awarded and applied to contractors who joint venture with a minority/women business enterprise for the first time or include and utilize a minority/women business enterprise for the first time in a bid/proposal.

(4)

Minority/women business enterprise recruitment and training credit. This credit may be earned, awarded and applied to contractors who have established structured internal minority/women business enterprise development and enhancement programs. Eligible programs may be those which provide technical assistance, mentor/protege training, scholarships and business development information to minority/women business enterprises. Programs must be pre-approved and may be monitored by the compliance officer before credit can be earned, awarded and applied. Credit may be awarded only to the contractor responsible for development and enhancement of the minority/women business enterprise. If there is more than one contractor, credit may be allocated among contractors in order to prevent duplication.

(5)

Joint venture credit. Credit may be earned, awarded and applied for established and registered joint venture relationships.

(6)

The credit program shall include the following features:

a.

Credits toward the goals set forth in this division may be applied at the time bids/proposals are evaluated, Credits can be used only one time. Contracts, certificates of completion, affidavits, canceled checks, and other documentation as requested by the compliance officer must be provided to substantiate the award and application of credits. A record of earned and applied credits shall be maintained by the compliance officer. The compliance officer determines whether credits will be applied to bids/proposals.

b.

Credits may not be applied more than two (2) years after award.

c.

The credit program shall be reviewed annually by county staff and may be suspended upon a finding of substantial evidence of fraud or insufficient monitoring.

d.

Only dollars spent with certified minority/women business enterprises, whose corporate office is domiciled in the Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area are eligible for credits.

e.

Contractors who utilize graduated minority/women business enterprises may earn credits only when the graduate minority/women business enterprise is in a joint venture relationship with a certified minority/women business enterprise and both minority/women business enterprises are domiciled in the Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area.

f.

Earned credits cannot be applied to offset more than twenty (20) percent of the designated participation goal on an individual procurement.

(Ord. No. 94-02, § 7, 1-11-94; Ord. No. 2002-01, § 6, 1-08-02)