Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 51.95
Liaison Parker Long
Submission Date July 24, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Virginia Commonwealth University
OP-15: Inclusive and Local Purchasing

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Erin Stanforth
Director of Sustainability
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have an institution-wide stated intent to support disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local community-based businesses?:
Yes

A copy of the policy, guidelines or directive governing inclusive and local purchasing:
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The policy, guidelines or directive governing inclusive and local purchasing:

VCU's small, woman and minority-owned business program (entitled "SWaM") is established by state statute and covers state agencies, as well as, public, higher education institutions within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Currently, VCU is not permitted statutorily to engage in "local" preference programs.

The rule governing VCU's SWaM program can be found here:
ATTACHMENT 1

Rules Governing Procurement of Goods, Services, Insurance, and Construction
by a Public Institution of Higher Education of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Governed by Subchapter 3 of the
Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act,
Chapter 4.10 (§ 23-38.88 et seq.) of Title 23 of the Code of Virginia

(see https://vascupp.org/rules.pdf for full text)

§ 9. Discrimination prohibited; participation of small, women-and minority-owned business.

A. In the solicitation or awarding of contracts, the Institution shall not discriminate against a bidder or offeror because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by state law relating to discrimination in employment. Whenever solicitations are made, the Institution shall include businesses selected from a list made available by the Department of Minority Business Enterprise.

B. The Institution shall establish programs consistent with this section to facilitate the participation of small businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities in procurement transactions. The programs established shall be in writing and shall include cooperation with the Department of Minority Business Enterprise, the United States Small Business Administration, and other public or private agencies. The Institution shall submit annual progress reports on minority business procurement to the Department of Minority Business Enterprise.

C. Whenever there exists (i) a rational basis for small business enhancement or (ii) a persuasive analysis that documents a statistically significant disparity between the availability and utilization of women- and minority-owned businesses, the Governor is by law authorized and encouraged to require the Institution to implement appropriate enhancement or remedial measures consistent with prevailing law


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (inclusive and local expenditures)?:
Yes

The percentage of total purchases from disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises and/or local community-based businesses:
40

The website URL where information about the institution’s inclusive and local purchasing policies and/or program is available:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.