§200.321. Contracting with small businesses, minority businesses, women's business enterprises, veteran-owned businesses, and labor surplus area firms. — Inbound Citations

When conducting procurement transactions under a Federal award, a State or Indian Tribe must follow the same policies and procedures it uses for procurements with non-Federal funds. If such policies and procedures do not exist, States and Indian Tribes must follow the procurement standards in §§ 200.318 through 200.327. In addition to its own policies and procedures, a State or Indian Tribe must also comply with the following procurement standards: §§ 200.321, 200.322, 200.323, and 200.327. All other recipients and subrecipients, including subrecipients of a State or Indian Tribe, must follow the procurement standards in §§ 200.318 through 200.327.

(a) The recipient or subrecipient must maintain and use documented procedures for procurement transactions under a Federal award or subaward, including for acquisition of property or services. These documented procurement procedures must be consistent with State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the standards identified in §§ 200.317 through 200.327.

(a) When procuring audit services, the auditee must follow the procurement standards in §§ 200.317 through 200.327 of subpart D or the FAR (48 CFR part 42), as applicable. When requesting proposals for audit services, the objectives and scope of the audit must be made clear, and the non-Federal entity must request a copy of the audit organization's peer review report, which the auditor must provide under GAGAS. Factors to be considered in evaluating each proposal for audit services include the responsiveness to the request for proposal, relevant experience, availability of staff with professional qualifications and technical abilities, the results of peer and external quality control reviews, and price. Whenever possible, the auditee must make efforts to contract with businesses as stated in § 200.321 or the FAR (48 CFR part 42), as applicable.

(a) When procuring audit services, the objective is to obtain high-quality audits. In requesting proposals for audit services, the objectives and scope of the audit must be made clear and the for-profit entity must request a copy of the audit organization's peer review report which the auditor is required to provide under GAGAS. Factors to be considered in evaluating each proposal for audit services include the responsiveness to the request for proposal, relevant experience, availability of staff with professional qualifications and technical abilities, the results of peer and external quality control reviews, and price. Whenever possible, the auditee must make positive efforts to utilize small businesses, minority-owned firms, and women's business enterprises, in procuring audit services as stated in 2 CFR 200.321 Contracting with small and minority businesses, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms, or the FAR (48 CFR part 42), as applicable.

(b) It thereby implements OMB guidance in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.326, and appendix II to 2 CFR part 200, as those portions of 2 CFR part 200 apply to general terms and conditions of grants and cooperative agreements. It also partially implements 2 CFR 200.205(d), 200.213, and 200.517.

(a) Implements OMB guidance in 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.323, 200.324(a) and (b), and 200.325;

(b) Implements OMB guidance in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.326 and appendix II to 2 CFR part 200, as those portions of 2 CFR part 200 apply to subawards; and

(ii) 2 CFR 200.321, Contracting with small and minority businesses, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms; and

(b) However, if the recipient uses the procedures in paragraph (a) of this section to retain an architect or engineer, any Step 3 contracts between the architect or engineer and the grantee must meet all other procurement provisions in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327.

(d) The Summer EBT agency must follow either the State or ITO laws, policies and procedures as authorized by 2 CFR 200.317, or the procurement standards for other governmental grantees and all governmental subgrantees in accordance with 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.326. Regardless of the option selected, Summer EBT agencies must ensure that all contracts include any clauses required by Federal statutes and Executive orders and that the requirements in 2 CFR 200.236 and 2 CFR part 200, appendix II, are followed.

(j) A recipient must comply with 2 CFR 200.321 when procuring goods and services in the United States. When procuring goods and services outside of the United States, a recipient should endeavor to comply with 2 CFR 200.321 where practicable.

(j) The recipient must comply with 2 CFR 200.321 when procuring goods and services in the United States. When procuring goods and services outside of the United States, the recipient should endeavor to comply with 2 CFR 200.321 where practicable.

(j) A recipient must comply with 2 CFR 200.321 when procuring goods and services in the United States. When procuring goods and services outside of the United States, a recipient should endeavor to comply with 2 CFR 200.321 where practicable.

(c) All other non-Federal entities, including subrecipients of a State (such as local areas), must use a competitive process based on local procurement policies and procedures and the principles of competitive procurement in the Uniform Guidance set out at 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.326. All references to “noncompetitive proposals” in the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.320(f) will be read as “sole source procurement” for the purposes of implementing this section.

(4) In addition to the requirements at 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.326 (as appropriate), all procurement contracts between Local WDBs and units of State or local governments must be conducted only on a cost reimbursement basis.

(b) A participating jurisdiction must prescribe procedures acceptable to HUD to establish and oversee a minority outreach program within its jurisdiction to ensure the inclusion, to the maximum extent possible, of minorities and women, and entities owned by minorities and women, including, without limitation, real estate firms, construction firms, appraisal firms, management firms, financial institutions, investment banking firms, underwriters, accountants, and providers of legal services, in all contracts entered into by the participating jurisdiction with such persons or entities, public and private, in order to facilitate the activities of the participating jurisdiction to provide affordable housing authorized under this Act or any other Federal housing law applicable to such jurisdiction. Section 200.321 of title 2 Code of Federal Regulations describes actions to be taken by a participating jurisdiction to assure that minority business enterprises and women business enterprises are used when possible in the procurement of property and services.

(ix) Records demonstrating compliance with 2 CFR 200.321 regarding the grantee's activities related to minority business enterprise (MBE) and women's business enterprise (WBE).

(d) The Department will review a recipient's performance to determine if it has administered its activities funded with assistance under this part in a manner to encourage use of minority and women's business enterprises described in Executive Orders 11625, 12432 and 12138, and 2 CFR 200.321. In making this review, the Department will determine if the grantee has taken actions required under 2 CFR 200.321, and will review the effectiveness of those actions in accomplishing the objectives of 2 CFR 200.321 and the Executive Orders. No recipient is required by this part to attain or maintain any particular statistical level of participation in its contracting activities by race, ethnicity, or gender of the contractor's owners or managers.

(i) A recipient shall not be required to comply with 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.326 with respect to any procurement, using a grant provided under NAHASDA, of goods and services with a value of less than $5,000.

(iii) If one approvable bid or proposal is received, request Area ONAP review and approval of the proposed contract and related procurement documents, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.326, in order to award the contract to the single bidder or offeror.

(3) Imminent threat means a problem which if unresolved or not addressed will have an immediate negative impact on public health or safety.

Low and moderate income beneficiary means a family, household, or individual whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for the area, as determined by HUD, with adjustments for smaller and larger households or families. However, HUD may establish income ceilings higher or lower than 80 percent of the median for the area on the basis of HUD's findings that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low household or family incomes. In reporting income levels to HUD, the applicant must include and identify the distributions of tribal or village income to families, households, or individuals.

Microenterprise means a business that has five or fewer employees, one or more of whom owns the enterprise.

Secretary means the Secretary of HUD.

Small business means a business that meets the criteria set forth in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631, 636, and 637).

Subrecipient means a public or private nonprofit agency, authority or organization, or a for-profit entity described in § 1003.201(l), receiving ICDBG funds from the grantee or another subrecipient to undertake activities eligible for assistance under subpart C of this part. The term excludes a CBDO receiving ICDBG funds from the grantee under the authority of § 1003.204, unless the grantee explicitly designates it as a subrecipient. The term does not include contractors providing supplies, equipment, construction or services subject to the procurement requirements in 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.326.

Tribal government, Tribal governing body or Tribal council means the governing body of an Indian tribe or Alaska native village as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Tribal resolution means the formal manner in which the tribal government expresses its legislative will in accordance with its organic documents. In the absence of such organic documents, a written expression adopted pursuant to tribal practices will be acceptable.

URA means the Uniform Relocation and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4601 et. seq.).

(e) Grantees that are not allowed to make subgrants under paragraph (b) of this section are authorized to contract, as needed, for supplies, equipment, and other services, in accordance with 2 CFR part 200, subpart D (2 CFR 200.317 through 200.326).

(d) Grantees, in cases where subgrants are prohibited by applicable statutes or regulations or the terms and conditions of a grant award, are authorized to contract, as needed, for supplies, equipment, and other services, in accordance with 2 CFR part 200, subpart D (2 CFR 200.317 through 200.326).

(c) All other non-Federal entities, including subrecipients of a State (such as local areas), must use a competitive process based on local procurement policies and procedures and the principles of competitive procurement in the Uniform Guidance set out at 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.326. All references to “noncompetitive proposals” in the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.320(f) will be read as “sole source procurement” for the purposes of implementing this section.

(c) All other non-Federal entities, including subrecipients of a State (such as local areas), must use a competitive process based on local procurement policies and procedures and the principles of competitive procurement in the Uniform Guidance set out at 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.326. All references to “noncompetitive proposals” in the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.320(f) will be read as “sole source procurement” for the purposes of implementing this section.

(b) Description of anticipated project partnership(s), including the responsibilities of each of the partner entities, the experience of any involved entities with serving Veteran populations, and other qualifications of the involved entities that may be relevant in carrying out responsibilities of the project partnership. In establishing the project partnership, entities, including the project coordinator, evaluator, and service provider, but excluding investors, must be procured following procurement standards set forth in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.326.

(1) Grantee procurement for developing or supplementing the facilities plan to prepare the pre-bid package, as well as for designing and building the project and performing construction management and contract administration, will be in accordance with the procurement standards at 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327 and 2 CFR 1500.10 through 1500.11.

(1) In addition to the procurement standards described in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327 and 2 CFR part 1500, the State shall comply with the requirements in the following: Paragraphs (a)(5), (a)(9), and (b) of this section, § 35.6555(c), in § 35.6565 the first sentence of the introductory text, the first sentence of paragraph (b), paragraph (d), and §§ 35.6570, 35.6575, and 35.6600. Political subdivisions and Tribes must follow all of the requirements included or referenced in this section through § 35.6610.

(c) Post Federal Award Requirements (2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327). These procedures include provisions for small purchase procedures.

(3) Construction contracts and subcontracts under this program are subject to the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276a et seq.). For requirements that grantees must observe for enforcing compliance by contractors and subcontractors, see the section on contract provisions in the procurement standards for HHS grantees made applicable by 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327.

(A) Is selected through a competitive bidding process that is consistent with 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327 and is based on the State's evaluation of the broker's experience, performance, references, resources, qualifications, and costs.

(2) States may use a vendor organization that has the capabilities to perform the required tasks in accordance with Section 3504 of the IRS Code and Revenue Procedure 70-6. When private entities furnish financial management services, the procurement method must meet the requirements set forth in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327.

(1) The ECM system must be acquired through applicable competitive procurement process in the State and must be the most cost-effective telecommunications network and automatic data processing services and equipment. The procurement must meet the procurement requirements set forth in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327. The request for proposal (RFP) may be substituted for the advance planning and implementation documents otherwise required by part 433 of this chapter, 45 CFR 95.205, and 45 CFR part 307. A cost-benefit analysis must accompany the RFP. If in its advance planning document, a State establishes that a separate procurement is not cost-effective, modification of an existing fiscal agent contract will be acceptable. In this case, procurement of network services and equipment (but not software modifications) must be competitively procured.

(7) The agreement must not restrict the health center's ability, if it chooses, to enter into agreements with other providers or suppliers of comparable goods, items, or services, or with other lenders or donors. Where a health center has multiple individuals or entities willing to offer comparable remuneration, the health center must employ a reasonable methodology to determine which individuals or entities to select and must document its determination. In making these determinations, health centers should look to the procurement standards for beneficiaries of Federal grants set forth in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327.

(6) Procurement procedures at 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327; and

(iii) The establishment of all necessary agreements with other Federal, State, and local agencies or private providers to carry out Child Support Enforcement program activities in accordance with Procurement Standards, 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327. These agreements may include:

(A) Necessary administrative agreements for support services;

(B) Utilization of State and local information resources;

(C) Cooperation with courts and law enforcement officials, and Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations pursuant to § 302.34 of this chapter;

(3) Establishment of all necessary agreements with other Tribal, State, and local agencies or private providers for the provision of child support enforcement services in accordance with Procurement Standards found in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327. These agreements may include:

(i) Necessary administrative agreements for support services;

(ii) Use of Tribal, Federal, State, and local information resources;

(iii) Cooperation with courts and law enforcement officials;

(iv) Securing compliance with the requirements of the Tribal IV-D program plan in operations under any agreements;

(v) Development and maintenance of systems for fiscal and program records and reports required to be made to OCSE based on these records; and