27-58   Favored Business Enterprises
Expand Participation. If a contract is being funded in whole or in part by assistance from a federal agency, the purchasing agent shall take affirmative steps to assure that small, women-owned, and minority businesses are utilized when possible as sources of supplies, services, and construction items.
Examples of Affirmative Steps. Affirmative steps to be taken shall include:
   A.   Including qualified small, women-owned, and minority businesses on solicitation lists;
   B.   Assuring that small, women-owned, and minority businesses are solicited whenever they are potential sources;
   C.   When economically feasible, dividing total requirements into smaller tasks or quantities so as to permit maximum small, women-owned, and minority business participation;
   D.   Where the requirement permits, establishing delivery schedules which will encourage participation by small, women-owned, and minority business; and
   E.   Using the services and assistance of the Small Business Administration, or the Office of Minority Business Enterprise of the Department of Commerce, as required.
Pass-Through to Subcontracts. A contractor awarded a federally funded contract shall take the affirmative steps, as listed in this section, in awarding its subcontracts.