3I04 Evaluation of Contracting Activity

One element of a good faith commitment to equal employment opportunity is the use of small disadvantaged businesses or disadvantaged business enterprises as subcontractors.232 These efforts must be documented. This subsection draws from 41 CFR 60-4.3(a) paragraph 7, step o and Part III.E of the Construction SCER; COs should refer to these provisions for more information. Records of all solicitations of offers for subcontracts from construction contractors and suppliers that are small disadvantaged businesses or business enterprises, including circulations of solicitations to minority and women’s contractor associations, must be maintained and produced upon request.233 In assessing the contractor’s efforts in this regard, the CO should:

  • Determine whether there are solicitations to small disadvantaged businesses or disadvantaged business enterprises, and minority and female contractor associations;
  • Verify that the solicitations to small disadvantaged businesses or disadvantaged business enterprises are made on the same basis as those to larger contractors.

232. 41 CFR 60-4.3(a) paragraph 7, step o. Regulations in place as of the time of the publication of this version of the FCCM refer to solicitation of offers from minority and female construction contractors and suppliers. Affirmative action programs in federal procurement are, however, no longer reserved for minority and women-owned businesses. The Small Business Administration and the Department of Transportation procurement programs are for small disadvantaged business disadvantaged business enterprises, including minority and women-owned businesses. Accordingly, the terms “small disadvantaged business” and “disadvantaged business enterprises” are used in this section.

233. Both 41 CFR 60-4.3(a)7.o and Part III.E of the Construction SCER provide related information.