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Small Business Enterprise
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) embarked upon an aggressive, multi-billion dollar school construction and renovation program delivering new and modernized school facilities; adding more than 170,000 new classroom seats at the end of 2013. In continuation of its mission to provide state of the art school facilities, the LAUSD is investing $700 million a year for the next ten years for a total of $7 billion in its unprecedented school renovation program. LAUSD's investment in new and existing school facilities represents the largest school construction and renovation program in the western United States.
In recognition that the school construction and renovation program will require a large pool of qualified contractors and that the construction activity will take place in diverse neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles and neighboring cities, the Board of Education deems it imperative that small businesses compete for these economic opportunities.
25% Small Business Enterprise Participation Goal
In February 2003, the Board of Education established a 25% Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation goal on all District contracts. In October 2013, the Board reaffirmed their commitment to the District wide small business participation goal of twenty-five percent (25%), increased the Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation goal to five percent (5%) and established a (10%) bid preference for bids only on contracts pursuant to Public Contract Code section 20111. These far-reaching SBE/DVBE participation goals are the guiding principles for the Small Business Program.
The mission of the Small Business Program is to increase the pool of qualified vendors competing for LAUSD procurement opportunities. The Small Business Program provides SBE firms with information and access to compete for goods contracts, architecture, engineering, and professional services contracts; and referral services to technical assistance, financial, bonding and insurance, and certification services that promote the long-term competitive capacity of SBE firms.
