University of the Pacific
OP-15: Inclusive and Local Purchasing

Pacific recognizes as “small business concerns” (SBCs) the following current list of federally designated business concerns:
• small businesses, as defined by SBA size standards for each industry;
• small disadvantaged businesses, which must be federally certified ;
• woman-owned small businesses, meeting the SBA standards and which "self-certify" as to ownership;
• HUBzone businesses, located in census tracts of low income/high unemployment, and which must be federally certified;
• historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions;
• veteran-owned small businesses, which self-certify as to ownership; and
• service disabled veteran small businesses, which self-certify as to ownership.

Using the definition above, Pacific encourages participation in all of its contracts by small business concerns and aspires to have 15% of all purchases made through small business concerns, regardless of source of funds.

The Purchasing Policy adopted January 1, 2011 requires that Pacific staff involved with purchasing opportunities increase their outreach to small business concerns, with special effort targeted for underrepresented businesses to include:

• including in solicitations a provision encouraging participation by certified firms and other small businesses;
• providing SBCs and other small businesses that express an interest in participating with adequate and timely information about plans, specifications, and requirements of the solicitation;
• participating in trade shows, conferences, educational seminars, and training sessions in order to broaden communication between Pacific and potential SBCS;
• utilize the services of available minority community organizations, minority contractor groups, local minority assistance offices and organizations that provide assistance in the recruitment of SBC and other small businesses whenever feasible; and
• include in its competitive solicitations the statement “Non-Discrimination: Contractors, Bidders and Proposers shall not create barriers to open and fair opportunities for all businesses including SBCs to participate in contracts and to obtain or compete for contracts and subcontracts as sources of supplies, equipment, construction and services. In considering offers from, and doing business with, subcontractors and suppliers, the Contractor shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, nationality, marital status, or the presence of any mental or physical disability in an otherwise qualified disabled person.”