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Historically Underutilized Business
Statement of Commitment
The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) remains committed in making a good-faith effort to assist Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) in the procurement process in accordance with the goals and statutes established by the State.
The TEEX procurement process is administered by the Texas A&M University Department of Strategic Sourcing & Purchasing Services for purchases over $5,000. The agency works closely with the Department to ensure that qualified HUBs are included in bidders’ lists for purchases over $5,000. For purchases $5,000 and under, the utilization of HUB firms by TEEX personnel is encouraged to the maximum extent possible.
The Texas A&M System Office of Facilities, Planning & Construction will solicit HUBs for construction contract opportunities on behalf of the agency. TEEX will receive HUB credit for construction HUB subcontracting expenditures.
Goal of the TEEX HUB Program
The goal of the TEEX HUB Program is to include qualified HUBs in the procurement participation goals in accordance with the rules established by the Texas Procurement and Support Services (TPASS). The agency HUB goal for Fiscal Year 2009 is 15 percent.
Administration of the TEEX HUB Program
TEEX will administer its HUB Program as specified in Texas Government Code Chapter 2161, Texas Administrative Code Title 34, Part 1, Chapter 20, Subchapter B, The Texas A&M System Policy 25.06, System Regulation 25.06.01 and the HUB Performance Improvement Plan (HPIP).
The TEEX HUB Plan for Fiscal Year 2009
- Internal Plans and Activities
- HUB Communication and Training
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will continue to communicate to TEEX personnel the agency’s semi-annual and annual HUB percentage.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will conduct meetings and/or training for TEEX staff to educate and promote the HUB program and vendor diversity.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will attend Purchasing and/or HUB training workshops sponsored by Texas A&M University, Texas A&M System or by the State.
• After exhibiting at HUB Vendor Forums, the HUB Coordinator/designee will communicate HUB vendor contact information and the products/services they offer with the HUB Advisory Committee.
• The TEEX HUB web page will be updated to include HUB-related activities and information to support the HUB program.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will coordinate through its web page, newsletter or by email any HUB-related activities and efforts.
• All TEEX current and new employees must take the required System HUB Purchasing online training.
- HUB Identification
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will distribute information to TEEX staff regarding certified HUB vendors and the types of services and commodities that HUB vendors provide.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will contact those HUB vendors they do business with and notify them of their HUB expiration and encourage recertification.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will analyze expenditures by division and communicate suggestions for increased HUB participation.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will identify new Texas vendors that TEEX is doing business with and will provide information regarding the HUB program and certification.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will provide TEEX divisions with access to a report by vendor ethnicity and gender.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will assist and respond to requests from TEEX personnel in locating HUB vendors by utilizing the TPASS Centralized Master Bidders’ List (CMBL) directory to search for HUB vendors to solicit bids for purchases.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will submit a list of suggested HUB vendors on requisitions over $5,000 to TAMU Strategic Sourcing & Purchasing Services. - HUB Performance Monitoring
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will assist divisions in setting their division HUB percentage goal.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will continue to generate HUB participation reports by division on a monthly basis. One of these reports is by vendor ethnicity. The HUB Coordinator/designee will review HUB reports with the HUB Advisory Committee. - HUB Specialized Forums
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will continue to schedule and coordinate diverse specialized forums for HUBs to display their goods and services to TEEX divisions.
- HUB Communication and Training
- External Plans and Activities
- Participation in State Activities and Group Initiatives:
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will participate, whenever possible, in activities provided by the State or an agency of the State that promotes the inclusion of minority and/or woman-owned businesses. Such activities include the HUB Discussion Group, HUB Outreach Subcommittee and the Texas Universities HUB Coordinators Alliance, etc. - Develop Partnerships with other System Members
• The TEEX HUB Office will participate, whenever possible, in activities that promote economic opportunities for HUBs. The HUB Office will share costs, information and other resources with other System members or other state agencies to conserve resources. - Provide Certification Assistance
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will assist vendors by providing forms, answering questions and providing contacts at TPASS. - Post Bid Opportunities
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will notify the Texas A&M University Department of Strategic Sourcing & Purchasing Services of the TEEX 15 percent HUB goal for Fiscal Year 2009. The agency will work cooperatively with the Department to provide procurement opportunities to HUB vendors and post bid opportunities. TEEX will provide information to minority business organizations through a web page that contains links to available procurement opportunities.
• When the agency is entering into a procurement contract with an expected value of $100,000 or more and if there are probable subcontracting opportunities, the HUB Coordinator/designee will attend pre-bid meetings to review and explain the HUB Subcontracting Plan with vendors. - Outreach Activities
• Interact with minority trade organizations and chambers of
commerce to answer questions and provide HUB information.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will attend and exhibit at Economic Opportunity Forums and participate in events that promote diversity and economic opportunities for HUB vendors.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will identify and participate, whenever possible, in activities provided by the State or an agency of the State that promote the inclusion of minority-and/or woman-owned businesses, such as the HUB Discussion Workgroup and the Texas Universities HUB Coordinators Alliance.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will collaborate with other TAMUS components on the TAMUS cooperative Mentor-Protégé Program to identify and match prospective mentors and protégés and facilitate agreements.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will promote the HUB program by advertising in minority and woman-owned magazines, newspapers, brochures and/or catalogs.
- Participation in State Activities and Group Initiatives:
- HUB Advisory Committee
• The TEEX HUB Advisory Committee will meet quarterly at a minimum. Eleven TEEX employees serve on the Committee. The Committee assists the HUB Coordinator/designee in outreach and certification efforts to enhance the HUB program. - TEEX HUB Reporting
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will compile and submit activity reports to the Texas A&M System HUB reporting database as required by the HPIP.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will compile and submit annual and semi-annual data for the State HUB Report with a supplemental letter documenting outreach efforts.
• The HUB Coordinator/designee will generate and distribute a monthly HUB participation report to the agency senior staff, administrative offices and the TEEX HUB Advisory Committee for their review and action. - Audit
The TEEX HUB Office will maintain documentation to fulfill State and System audit requirements.
Contact
For more information concerning the TEEX HUB Program, please contact:
Yvette Tschirhart
HUB Coordinator
v. 979.458.6794
e-mail – Yvette.Tschirhart@teexmail.tamu.edu
John P. Skrabanek
Associate Agency Director/CFO
v. 979.458.6902
e-mail - john.skrabanek@teexmail.tamu.edu