Business Development and Contract Compliance
Administers the county’s local and federal small business programs, priority hire and apprenticeship programs, including the master community workforce agreement for capital construction projects. BDCC also performs fast track small contractors and suppliers (SCS) certification for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Woman Business Enterprises (WBE) certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises.
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Moving forward with pro-equity contracting
From left to right, at the signing of the executive order in May, Ken Guy, FBOD director; Fernando Martinez, CEO/President, Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council; Dow Constantine, King County Executive; Rodnie Taylor, Chair, Black Contractors and Professionals; and Ollie Garrett, CEO/President, Tabor 100.
With Executive Dow Constantine’s recent Executive Order and additional leadership from the Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD), departments are already moving forward to transform the county’s existing contracting program to make it easier for minority and women-owned businesses (also known as MWBEs) to compete for county contracts.
"The Executive Order emphasizes we need to be more intentional about setting goals and achieving results for pro-equity contracting," said Ken Guy, FBOD director. "We need to have a bias for action. Working together as ‘One King County’ we can really make a difference for MWBE firms."
Guy recently sent an email to the Executive Cabinet and Executive Operations Cabinet asking for their participation.
"Executive branch departments are expected to take ownership for setting pro-equity contracting goals, taking actions to meet those goals, and reporting results that demonstrate progress,” said Guy in the email. FBOD “will be reaching out to departments to provide informational briefings and highlight how we will collaborate with departments to fulfill the intent of the Executive Order."
Two leaders within FBOD will be responsible for working with departments to coordinate the Executive Order deliverables in 2021. David Malone, chief procurement officer and manager of FBOD’s Procurement & Payables section, will have lead responsibility for forming an interdepartmental steering committee; promoting innovative procurement methods to enhance MWBE participation; improving the supplier registration process with a focus on small and MWBE firms; and reducing challenges and barriers in the procurement process for MWBE firms.
Sandy Hanks, the manager of FBOD’s Business Development and Contract Compliance (BDCC) unit, will have lead responsibility for assisting departments with equity goal setting for various categories of contracts; periodic reporting; certification programs; a disparity study feasibility analysis; administration of the small business accelerator program; outreach to community based organizations and MWBEs; and training for internal staff and prospective suppliers.
Hanks observed that departments are already embracing pro-equity contracting.
"I am very impressed by the positive and proactive response of our agency partners," Hanks said. "I’ve already had department staff reach out to me about what they can do to incorporate equity goals and actions in upcoming contracts. This is the kind of passion and energy we want to sustain around pro-equity contracting."