The Savannah City Council adopted a policy in 2009 that establishes goals for the use of Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) vendors in construction and service contracts over $100,000, and consultant services contracts over $75,000. Goals are calculated based upon specific contracting, subcontracting, and/or supplier opportunities and the availability of M/WBEs registered as certified in the City’s M/WBE directory. The M/WBE goal for each project is then determined by a mathematical calculation that compares the number M/WBE firms certified in a given trade to the total number of firms in the same trade for a given project.

City Council has expressed a desire to maximize M/WBE participation in a number of large construction projects underway, including the development of a new arena and Canal District. City Council’s current M/WBE Policy, however, is restricting the City Manager from maximizing M/WBE participation in these projects.

On the Sept. 28, 2017, City Council Agenda is consideration of a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, which would replace the M/WBE program, and would become effective January 1, 2018.

Adoption of this resolution would suspend City Council’s current M/WBE goal-setting policy, and allow the City Manager to utilize alternative methods to maximize M/WBE goals on City projects until the proposed DBE program becomes effective January 1, 2018.

Approval