University of California, Santa Barbara
OP-T2-24: Historically Underutilized Businesses

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM -The University of California, Santa Barbara campus is committed to contracting diversity. The University’s efforts in this area are consistent with federal and state laws as well as the University of California Systemwide policy. Mission Statement: Pursuant to University policy and guidelines, the Small Business Program (SBP) is responsible for ensuring equal opportunities in business contracting at the Santa Barbara campus for all small business enterprises (SBE), including: small disadvantaged businesses (SDB); women-owned small businesses (WOSB); veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB); service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB); and historically underutilized businesses zone (HUBZone) small businesses. The Small Business Program serves as a liaison between the University and the small business community, with the goal of increasing utilization of SBEs and maintaining diversity in the supplier and contractor base at the Santa Barbara campus. Vision Statement: The SBP is an integral part of the University’s administration, serving as the unit responsible for the implementation of the University’s policy on equal opportunity in business contracting. The SBP is vital in its role as a connecting link between the University and small business community. The SBP seeks to heighten the awareness of procurement personnel to the level that equal opportunity in business contracting is established and fostered in the procurement process at the Santa Barbara campus in order to: • Ensure a continued high level of diversity in the University’s supplier and contractor pools through equal opportunity. • Identify additional Small Businesses for purchasing, construction, design, and business contracts to enhance the quality of suppliers and contractors providing goods and services. • Establish a networking alliance with other organizations committed to promoting equal opportunity business contracting. • Collaborate and cooperate with small business development programs locally and at other UC locations for the purpose of promoting small business interests. • Improve departmental small business utilization by informing campus departments about the University’s equal opportunity policy and providing a base of qualified sources. Functional Responsibility – Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO): The Santa Barbara campus has achieved a high degree of diversity in the supplier and contractor base for the procurement of goods and services. As plan administrator for federal contracts at the Santa Barbara campus, the SBLO is required to continue with its contracting diversity efforts on federally funded contracts. The Small Business Liaison Officer has the following responsibilities: Vendor Development • Conduct annual small business development trade fairs for the purpose of bringing SBEs to the campus and providing departmental staff the opportunity to meet new vendors • Conduct annual “How to Do Business at UC Santa Barbara” seminars for SBEs • Give presentations to civic and business organizations on business opportunities at UC Santa Barbara • Identify SBEs for purchasing, construction, and design through off-campus seminars and trade fairs • Conduct vendor site visits to determine the viability of the business and whether it is capable of doing business with the University SB Subcontracting Plan Development • Work with Sponsored Programs Office to identify proposals where a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required ($650,000) and complete the Plan in a timely manner • Report the actual subcontracting accomplishments on a semi-annual basis through the Government-wide electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS) • Create outreach and training activities to educate all involved parties as to their roles and responsibilities Inreach to Campus Departments • Provide access to Small Business Directors • Conduct annual small business development trade fairs primarily for campus departmental personnel to attend • Establish interactive relationships with campus departments for the purpose of discussing and addressing procurement issues • Provide newly developed small business sources to departments on an on-going basis Statistical Reports The SBP maintains databases on procurement activity. Utilization reports are issued on a quarterly basis for the campus. The UC Office of the President (UCOP) receives an annual report. Federal Small Business Subcontracting Administration Pursuant to Public Law 95-507, SBLO serves as “Plan Administrator” on federally funded research contracts of $650,000 or more. SBLO submits a Small Business Subcontracting Plan that projects a percentage of dollars that can be subcontracted to the various small business categories on federally funded research contracts. This becomes part of the University’s contract with the federal funding agency, and the SBLO monitors and submits semi-annual reports to the funding agencies reporting subcontracting progress. Small Business Enterprise Relations The SBP primarily provides suggested SBE sources to procurement personnel. It also provides conflict resolution to SBEs experiencing problems while conducting business with the University. The SBP makes the appropriate inquiries and attempts to resolve such problems. Roles & Responsibilities of the Campus Departments and Principal Investigators • Notify Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO) when applying for a contract or grant that will exceed $650,000, or a construction amount of $1,000,000 • Notify SBLO as soon as an RFP is received that includes the requirement for a Small Business Subcontracting Plan (required for contracts or grants over $650,000 or construction over $1,000,000) • Coordinate with SBLO and the campus contracts/grants office in the development of the Subcontracting Plan and any modifications thereto • Provide a detailed budget to SBLO, including a list of commodities and services and their potential suppliers • Be named in subcontracting plans as department administrator • Notify Purchasing Agent and SBLO when a Purchase Requisition is submitted using funds within a Subcontracting Plan • Maximize opportunities for small business concerns to participate in purchases within the department’s delegated authority (Small Business Administration Resources (SBA) /PRO-Net, etc.) • Assist in preparation of reports as necessary • Work with SBLO to ensure goals are met • Participate in training opportunities coordinated by the SBLO, sharing information with all applicable personnel Roles & Responsibilities of the Office of Sponsored Programs • Notify SBLO as soon as an RFP is received that includes the requirement for a Small Business Subcontracting Plan (greater than $650,000 for individual contracts and $1,000,000 for construction of a public facility) • Upon receipt of the Small Business Subcontracting Plan from the SBLO, submit the plan to the contracting agency for approval. Upon receipt of approval, notify the SBLO and the campus department/principal investigator • Participate in departmental training coordinated by SBLO Roles & Responsibilities of UCSB Purchasing • Maintain vendor database category fields to enable accurate reporting • Maximize opportunities for small business concerns to compete for University business, regardless of funding source • On applicable solicitations, work with SBLO to ensure adequate inclusion of small business concerns in the solicitation process, including using CCR/PRO- Net and other available sources • Participate in vendor outreach (e.g., informational meetings, vendor fairs) as requested • Assist in identifying Purchase Requisitions using funds governed by Small Business Subcontracting Plan • Participate in training coordinated by SBLO Small Business Diversity Vendor Database The University of California, Berkeley maintains a database of supplier diversity vendors that include several qualified small business concerns. This tool can be used to query by company name or product service keywords. The following is a link to Supplier Diversity Vendor Database: http://businessservices.berkeley.edu/procurement/diversity/searchNew