Updated at 11:49 a.m., Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Businesses gearing up for 'Fair Share' program changes
Advertiser Staff
The state Department of Health's Environmental Program is urging operators of minority- and women-owned businesses to apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration for certification as a Section 8 business, or to the state Department of Transportation for certification as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.Starting Oct. 1, only certified, minority-owned and women-owned businesses may participate in the Environmental Protection Agency's "Fair Share" purchasing program. "Fair Share" refers to EPA's policy that small, minority, and women-owned businesses be afforded maximum practical opportunity to participate as contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and otherwise in EPA-awarded financial assistance programs.
"We encourage purchasing from minority-owned or women-owned businesses in order to support Fair Share goals that are negotiated by all EPA grantees," Laurence Lau, deputy director for Environmental Health, said in a news release.
"Certification increases vendor access to EPA grantees nationwide."
Certification will not guarantee procurement by Hawai'i's EPA grantees, including the state's health, agriculture, and business and economic development departments and most subcontractors.
EPA's new certification requirement also does not prohibit a contract with a noncertified minority- or women-owned business. It simply means that noncertified vendors will not count toward a grantee's accomplishments.
For additional information, contact the Small Business Administration at 541-2990, or the Department of Transportation at 587-2023 .
Lau advises businesses that do not qualify for Small Business Administration or Department of Transportation certification to call EPA at 202-566-2075 or 415-972-3761.
