RFP, RFQ, Oh My! Capacity Building Workshop with Precinct 4

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RFP, RFQ, Oh My! Capacity Building Workshop with Precinct 4

Are you navigating the complex world of procurement but feeling overwhelmed by terms like RFP and RFQ? Join us for an enlightening session where we’ll demystify these key procurement processes and equip you with the knowledge to excel in government contracting. Additionally, this Capacity Building Workshop is the second part of the Doing Business with the County Workshops Series.

In particular, this session will cover:

• Understanding the Differences Between RFP & RFQ: Learn the distinct purposes and requirements of Request for Quotation (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP), and Invitation for Bid (IFB) processes.
• Navigating the Opportunity: Dive deep into reviewing procurement opportunities to identify the best fit for your business and maximize your chances of success.
• Compliance vs. Responsiveness: Discover the importance of compliance and responsiveness in your bids and how they contribute to winning contracts.
• Creating Winning Content: Explore effective strategies for crafting compelling and competitive content that stands out to procurement officers.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and take your procurement efforts to new heights. Join us at the RFP, RFQ, Oh My! Capacity Building Workshop and empower your business in government contracting!

About Harris County Precinct 4

Vendor Diversity

Overview

Harris County EEO’s Vendor Diversity Department serves as a connector linking Women, Minority, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises with Harris County contracting opportunities. However, Harris County encourages equal opportunity for all businesses and individuals in the Harris County marketplace. The Harris County Commissioners Court established the program in November 2020 and charged the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity with administering the program in direct response to a disparity study conducted by Colette Holt & Associates. Specifically, the study analyzed Harris County’s contracting practices and found that only 9% of the county’s contracting dollars went towards M/WBEs though these firms made up 28% of the available market. As a result, Harris County has an overall Annual Aspirational Goal of 30% of total spending for MWDBE participation in County contracts.

Overall, Harris County is committed to mitigating the past and present inequities for Women, Minorities, and Disabled Business Enterprises.

M/WBE Program Resources

• Disparity Study
• M/WBE Policy

The Vendor Diversity Department’s M/WBE Program Objectives:

• Ensure non-discrimination in the award and administration of Harris County Contracts.
• Create a level playing field on which M/WBEs can compete fairly for Harris County Contracts.
• Ensure that the M/WBE Program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law.
• Ensure that only firms that are Certified by public M/WBE certifying agencies are permitted to participate as M/WBEs.
• Help to remove barriers to the participation of M/WBEs in Harris County-funded Contracts.
• Assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the M/WBE Program.

The Vendor Diversity Department’s responsibilities include:

• Monitor M/WBE participation and payments reported to listed M/WBE firms as well as payments confirmed by M/WBEs (Minority and Women Business Enterprise) and DBEs.
• Review and provide recommendations for all change/modification requests to the County contract’s M/WBE participation.
• Conduct site visits to ensure listed M/WBE vendors are performing a CUF (Commercially Useful Function) as required per the Harris County M/WBE policy.
• Evaluate the Contractor’s Good Faith Efforts by emphasizing quality, quantity, and intensity when soliciting opportunities to M/WDBEs and throughout the partnership with the said M/WDBE(s) for the duration of the County contract.

Certifications Recognized

Harris County does not possess a certifying agency. Instead, we recognize the five (5) designations below for M/WBE credit:

• MBE (City of Houston)
• WBE (City of Houston)
• DBE (Texas Unified Certification Program)
• HUB (State of Texas)
• 8(a) Certifications (SBA)

For information on how to become a certified firm in one or more areas recognized by the County, please contact the City of Houston’s OBO (Office of Business Opportunity).

Small Business Support

Support the formation, survival, and growth of small and micro businesses.

Harris Hub (Ongoing)

The Harris County Harris Hub program is a targeted investment in the recovery and development of Harris County’s small businesses. Overall, Harris Hub provides funding to Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to increase their capacity. Altogether, this provides in-depth and culturally competent technical assistance to small and microenterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Harris County is working with vendors BakerRipley, ROADS Consulting, and FORWARD Platform to provide small business owners with individualized, tailored technical assistance in the areas of marketing, financial management, hiring, and more. All in all, this program is designed to target underserved small businesses. This includes those owned by women, veterans, and persons of color. Furthermore, small businesses that complete 30 hours of technical assistance in the program are eligible for a $5,000 grant (depending on available grant funding).

Revolving Loan Fund

More information in Quarter 3 2024.

Small Business Support (2021)

In 2021, Harris County created a $30 Million Small Business Relief Fund to accelerate recovery for microenterprises and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the Fund provided grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible microenterprises and small businesses located inside Harris County. Moreover, LiftFund, a Texas Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with over 25 years of experience serving small and underserved entrepreneurs, administered the program and coordinated outreach through 90 community partners and five navigator agencies.

However, the Fund accepted applications from September 20, 2021, to October 4, 2021. Overall, it received 9,611 eligible applications, of which more than 25% (2,577) received funding.

Learn more about the Harris County DEEO.

About B2G Victory

B2G Victory specializes in winning government contracts for women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses. It is the ecosystem for Texas businesses wanting to grow, build their capacity, and succeed in government contracting. Specifically, our trilateral relationship provides businesses, Prime Contractors, and Government Agencies with the ability to collaborate, drive innovation, and be mutually successful.

Learn more about B2G Victory.

Win Contracts

Don’t miss out on an incredible opportunity to join the B2G Victory Portal as we remove barriers, eliminate frustration, and, most importantly, save you time in winning your next contract!

Additional Education & Events

Lastly, explore more learning opportunities and events at the B2G Victory Events Page.