(a) The purpose of this article is to remedy past underutilization and provide a fair and level playing field for business equity firms and to encourage the participation of business equity firms to contract with the city.
(b) It is intended to promote equal opportunity and the utilization of business equity firms in the city's contracting opportunities.
(c) This article applies to any contract awarded by the city or any of its departments, boards or commissions for work, labor, services, supplies, equipment, materials or any combination of the foregoing; specifically including but not be limited to, any purchase or lease of materials, any public work project, or contract in which public bids are not required by law.
(d) The requirements of this article shall not apply to emergency contracts, however any department that procures an emergency contract must notify the DVIN, in writing, at the time it seeks legal approval of an emergency contract.
(e) Where contracts involve the expenditure of federal or state funds, the state or federal policy related to business equity firms participation may take precedence over this article.
(f) The provisions of this article shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of its policies and purposes.
(g) Narrowly tailored goals shall be established in the areas of procurement and contracting.
(h) A business equity goal may be set on a contract-by-contract basis based on the type of work or services to be performed, or goods to be acquired and the availability of business equity firms in the marketplace.
(i) All required notifications under this article must be made to the DVIN at the following email address: DVIN_BEOffice@fortworthtexas.gov.
(Ord. 24534-11-2020, § 1, passed 11-17-2020, eff. 1-1-2021; Ord. 25165-10-2021, § 1, passed 10-19-2021)