Democratic National Convention Committee and Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee Announce Diversity Contracting Policy

CHARLOTTE—The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee today announced that they have adopted a diversity contracting policy for the 2012 Democratic National Convention that represents unprecedented progress toward both the inclusion and use of diverse businesses.  The diversity contracting policy is in addition to practices that have been operational since the inception of both organizations to increase the participation of diverse businesses.

The policy states that the DNCC has a goal of spending at least one third of its aggregate dollars with Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses for its contracts and projects.

“I am proud of the major steps we are taking to further strengthen our commitment to diversity at the DNC and 2012 convention,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  “Our party values economic inclusion and shared prosperity and I believe that this groundbreaking effort will increase opportunity for all.”

“Never before has a host committee or a convention committee dedicated the resources and effort to diversity contracting at the levels we see here,” said Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, Co-chair of the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee.  “Not only will the 2012 Democratic National Convention stand as a model for the inclusion and utilization of diverse businesses, but it will have a lasting impact on this community and the surrounding region for years to come.”

“The DNCC is committed to ensuring the growth and success of underrepresented entrepreneurs,” said Steve Kerrigan, CEO of the DNCC. “We believe our diversity policy and practices are consistent with our mission and they reflect the importance that our stakeholders place on the development of minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, LGBT-owned and disability-owned businesses in their communities.”

In October, the Democratic Party hired a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) to advise the party and the convention on diversity staffing and procurement.  One of the CDO’s first tasks was to work with the convention committee and the host committee on a diversity contracting policy.

In addition, the DNCC and the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee put tools and systems in place early on to maximize the inclusion and utilization of diverse businesses.  They include:

• A robust vendor directory, established in August 2011, that is the sole source for 2012 Democratic National Convention contracts and subcontracts.  It allows businesses to self-identify as certified MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses or Veteran-Owned Businesses.  All companies that wish to do business with the Host Committee or the DNCC must register through the vendor directory.
• Business outreach program and staff to implement adequate sourcing mechanisms for convention contractors to assist in identifying MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses.
• Regional outreach and public information forums to inform and prepare businesses for economic opportunities around the convention.
• Fully integrated efforts toward diverse spending.  Vendors are asked to help the DNCC meet its goal in the RFP and contract process through:
• Diverse spending plans—Vendors must develop and provide a diversity utilization plan that would maximize the participation of MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses (including subcontractors where applicable) in the provision of goods and services for which the vendor will be responsible.  The DNCC considers the plan submitted by vendor as an important factor in evaluating responses to RFPs and awarding contracts with the DNCC.
• Efforts Toward Diverse Spending—Each contract awarded will require the vendor to make efforts to contract with MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses for the provision of goods and services for which the vendor is responsible as a means of assisting the DNCC to meet its one third diverse spend goal.
• Diverse spending reporting—Each contract awarded by the DNCC will require vendors to provide bi-weekly reports to the DNCC detailing participation by MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses as a means of assisting the DNCC to meet the one third diverse spend goal.

Below is the DNCC Diversity Contracting Policy:

DNCC DIVERSITY POLICY

Since its inception, it has been the practice of the DNCC to provide equal opportunity to all business enterprises to participate in all aspects of the DNCC’s contracting and purchasing programs without regard to race, creed, age, sex, national origin, ethnic identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, economic status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected basis. The DNCC has and will continue to conduct outreach and informational programs with constituent groups, businesses, and trade associations to prevent discrimination against any person or business enterprise on the basis of any of these factors.

Recognizing that some individuals, groups and business enterprises, including Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, Disability-Owned Business Enterprises, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses, have not historically received opportunities to participate equally in contracting opportunities and to ensure and reaffirm the DNCC’s continuing commitment to progress and success in achieving the goal of equal opportunity, the DNCC adopts the following diversity policy:

“Disability-Owned Business” means a business enterprise which is Owned and Operated by one or more persons with disabilities.

“LGBT-Owned Business” means a business enterprise which is Owned and Operated by one or more gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (“LGBT”) persons.

“Minority Business Enterprise” or “MBE” means a business enterprise which is Owned and Operated by one or more of the following ethnic minority groups: African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American / Pacific Islander and Native American.

“Owned and Operated” means (1) the business enterprise is at least 51% owned by one or more of the respective diversity groups, or in the case of any corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships, at least 51% of the voting stock or interests, as applicable, is owned by one or more of the respective diversity groups and (2) the management and daily business operations of the business enterprise are controlled by one or more of the respective diversity groups.
“Women Business Enterprise” or “WBE” means a business enterprise which is Owned and Operated by one or more women.

“Veteran-Owned Business” means a business enterprise which is Owned and Operated by one or more veterans.

An MBE, WBE, Disability-Owned Business, LGBT-Owned Business or Veteran-Owned Business may establish its qualification by providing to the DNCC:

• Its certification status from a federal, state or local governmental agency; or
• Its certification from a third-party certifier (e.g. the Minority Supplier Diversity Council, National Women Business Owners Corporation, US Business Leadership Network, etc.); or
• Documentation that would enable the Chief of Staff of the DNCC to verify that the vendor qualifies. This third method is designed to cover those vendors who are easily verifiable, such as sole proprietorships, small partnerships, closely-held corporations and small company that do not engage in significant government business or do not have the resources to seek a governmental or third-party certification.

The DNCC has a goal of spending at least one third of its aggregate dollars with MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses for its contracts and projects.

It is the policy of the DNCC to provide minorities, women, persons with disabilities, LGBT persons and veterans equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of contracting and purchasing programs, including but not limited to participation in procurement contracts for materials, supplies and equipment, and contracts for construction.

It is further the policy of the DNCC to prohibit discrimination against any person or business enterprise on the basis of race, color, ethnic identity, sex, creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, economic status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status, and to conduct its contracting and purchasing programs so as to prevent such discrimination.

It is the policy of the DNCC in concert with the Host Committee or other local, state and federal agencies and with the assistance of minority, women, persons with disabilities, LGBT and veteran groups and agencies, actively to seek and identify qualified MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses, and Veteran-Owned Businesses, and to offer them the opportunity to participate, and to encourage them to participate, in contracting and purchasing programs.

It is not the policy of the DNCC to provide information or other opportunities to MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses, or Veteran-Owned Businesses that will not be available to all other business enterprises. It is the intent of this policy to establish procedures designed to assure MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses, and Veteran-Owned Businesses access to information and opportunities available to other business enterprises. It is the intent of this policy to widen opportunities for participation, to increase competition, and to reduce costs.

The DNCC will award contracts without regard to race, religion, color, ethnic identity, creed, national origin, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status. The DNCC will award contracts to the bid that best meets the requirements of the DNCC.  Neither the DNCC nor the Host Committee is bound to accept the lowest offer or any tender submitted.

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