In early October, the Macon-Bibb Office of Small Business Affairs and the Bibb County School District Purchasing Department co-hosted a Procurement Informational and Work Session at the Historic Terminal Station in Downtown Macon. This was the second education and outreach event co-hosted this year by the two organizations.

“We want to make people more aware of the opportunities to work with Macon-Bibb and Bibb Schools, and that we are actively seeking out more minority, women, disabled, and small businesses to make sure our entire community benefits from the many improvement projects we are undertaking,” says Small Business Affairs Director Dr. James Bumpus.

Local and regional small business owners, and minority, women, and disadvantaged business owners interested in doing business with the government and who provide goods, supplies, and construction and professional services were invited to attend the day-long session. More than 60 people attended, representing the construction, print, education professional services, lawn care, vehicle maintenance, transportation, technology, and business development sectors.

Participation in the work session provided business owners the opportunity to learn about the process, procedures, and policies for government contracts, as well as upcoming opportunities to earn them. Featured during the day were a short program about each government, information about the procurement process, educational and business capacity acceleration, and a general Contractors panel discussion. Three local contractors who have been successful in earning government contracts talked with others about what they did and learned.

The next Work Session will be held Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at the Historic Macon Terminal Station (200 Cherry Street) from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This Session will highlight local and regional business development resources.

Business Definitions

Small Disadvantaged Businesses
The Small Business Administration defines Small Disadvantaged Businesses generally as those that generally meet the following criteria:

• The firm must be 51% or more owned and control by one or more disadvantaged persons;
• The disadvantaged person or persons must be socially disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged; and
• The firm must be small, according to SBA’s size standards

Small Business
The Small Business Administration defines a small business as one that is independently owned and operated, is organized for profit, and is not dominant in its field. Depending on the industry, size standard eligibility is based on the average number of employees for the preceding twelve months or on sales volume averaged over a three-year period. Examples of SBA general size standards include the following:

• Manufacturing: Maximum number of employees may range from 500 to 1500, depending on the type of product manufactured.
• Wholesaling: Maximum number of employees may range from 100 to 500 depending on the particular product being provided.
• Services: Annual receipts may not exceed $2.5 to $21.5 million, depending on the particular service being provided.
• Retailing: Annual receipts may not exceed $5.0 to $21.0 million, depending on the particular product being provided.
• General and Heavy Construction: General construction annual receipts may not exceed $13.5 to $17 million, depending on the type of construction.
• Special Trade Construction: Annual receipts may not exceed $7 million.
• Agriculture: Annual receipts may not exceed $0.5 to $9.0 million, depending on the agricultural product.

Socially Disadvantaged Individuals
The Small Business Administration defines socially disadvantaged individuals as those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as members of a group. Social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, individuals who are members of the following designated groups are presumed to be socially disadvantaged:

• Black Americans/African Americans;
• Women;
• Disabled;
• Disabled Veterans;
• Hispanic Americans;
• Native Americans; and
• Asian Pacific Americans.

About the Office of Small Business Affairs

The Office of Small Business Affairs programs apply to all contracts for the purchase of construction-related services, professional services, goods, real estate development, renovation, maintenance or other services awarded by or on behalf of Macon-Bibb County, GA.

The Office of Small Business Affairs provides the following scope of services for local (within the jurisdiction of Macon-Bibb County, GA) owners of small businesses, minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and disadvantage business enterprises:

• Technical assistance for compliance to the RFP/RFQ and bid process;
• General education and training about opportunities to compete for county contracts and the RFQ/RFP and bid process;
• Outreach to Small Business Enterprises, MBE, WBE, and DBE;
• Advocacy for Small Business Enterprises, MBE, WBE, DBE;
• Maintenance of a  current registry of Small Businesses, MBE, WBE, DBE; and
• Small business, MBE, WBE, DBE local certification.

Vision
The vision of the Office of Small Business Affairs is to have equity in local city-county government business opportunity.

Mission
The mission of the department is to develop and coordinate inclusive programs to promote the growth of small businesses, minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and disadvantage business enterprises. The Office supports the enhancement of the economic well-being of the county by providing resources that will improve the competitiveness of these businesses within the RFQ/RFP and bid process.  The office also promotes and supports small business development and workforce development.

Core Values
The core values of Equity, Professionalism, Integrity, and Competitiveness undergird the ethos of the Office of Small Business Affairs.