PLIA 23-005 Exh E_InclusionPlan.docx

EXHIBIT E – DIVERSE BUSINESS INCLUSION PLAN-SUBCONTRACTORS

Bidders Who Plan to Use Subcontractors to Perform the Contract, if Awarded

The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) is committed to providing opportunities for minority, women, veteran, and small businesses to do business with the agency. The Subcontractor Inclusion Plan outline commitments a bidder will make toward the state's goal to increase spending with small and diverse businesses. The plan:

1. Identifies the anticipated percent of small and diverse business participation on this contract. Participation can be as a prime contractor, subcontractor, or joint venture partner.

2. Provides a list of small and diverse businesses that will be used on the contract. This can include contracted services that support company operations and administration.

3. Describes planned efforts to support small and diverse businesses, Examples may include:

· Policies and procedures the business will use to promote small and diverse business goals, and inclusion.

· Current or planned small and diverse business programs such as apprenticeships, mentoring, workshops, special events, bonding and surety programs, financing programs, and early payment programs.

· Staff training for the small and diverse business subcontractor inclusion plan strategies, include a list of trainings, who attended, and percentage of relevant staff who received training.

· Efforts to assist interested small and diverse businesses in obtaining related assistance or services.

· Plan for outreach to the small and diverse business community. Include participation and outreach plans that provide community education about government projects and opportunities to participate in those projects. For example, tradeshows, workshops, seminars, Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) webinars, sponsorships, and teaming with public or non-profits event organizers.

4. Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors is divided into the following three sections:

Section 1 – Provides information about PLIA and Small/Diverse business categories.

Section 2 – Provides instructions and information regarding who is to submit a Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors and what is required.

Section 3 – Provides the template for the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors for the above referenced Competitive Solicitation and the information that bidders, if required (i.e., bidder, if awarded, plans to use subcontractors), are to complete.

Section 1: Information about Small and Diverse Businesses As set forth in the Competitive Solicitation, PLIA, in accordance with Washington State law and to the maximum extent practicable, encourages and supports small and diverse businesses to compete for and participate in state procurements as contractors and as subcontractors to awarded bidders. (See Chapter 39.19 RCW, OMWBE certified businesses; RCW 43.60A.200, WDVA certified veteran-owned businesses; and RCW 39.26.005, Washington small businesses).

For purposes of this Competitive Solicitation, the following terms have the following meanings:

Minority-Owned Business:

Limited to firms certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) as a minority-owned business (MBE). See, RCW 39.19.120 and Chapter 326-20 WAC.

Woman-Owned Business:

Limited to firms certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) as a woman-owned business (WBE). See, RCW 39.19.120 and Chapter 326-20 WAC.

Veteran-Owned Business:

Limited to firms certified by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) as a Certified Veteran-Owned Business. See, RCW 43.60A.010(7) & RCW 43.60A.190. Such firms must meet four requirements:

o 51% Ownership. The firm must be at least 51% owned and controlled by:

· A veteran as defined as every person who at the time they seek certification has received a discharge with an honorable characterization or received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record, where applicable, and who has served in at least one of the capacities listed in RCW 41.04.007;

· A person who is in receipt of disability compensation or pension from the department of veterans affairs; or

· An active or reserve member in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard, coast guard, and armed forces reserves.

o Washington Incorporation/Location. The firm must be either an entity that is incorporated in the state of Washington as a Washington domestic corporation or, if not incorporated, an entity whose principal place of business is located within the state of Washington.

o WEBS Certification. The firm must have certified its Veteran-Owned Business status in Washington’s Electronic Business Solution (WEBS).

o WDVA Certification. The firm must have provided certification documentation to the WDVA and be certified by WDVA and listed as such on WDVA’s website (WDVA – Veteran-Owned Businesses).

Washington Small Business:

Limited to firms that meet the following three requirements:

1. Location. The firm’s principal office/place of business must be located in and identified as being in the state of Washington. A principal office or principal place of business is a firm’s headquarters where business decisions are made and the location for the firm’s books and records as well as the firm’s senior management personnel.

2. Size. The firm must be owned and operated independently from all other businesses and have either: (a) 50 or fewer employees; or (b) gross revenue of less than $7,000,000 annually as reported on the firm’s federal income tax return or its return filed with the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) over the previous three consecutive years.

3. WEBS Certification. Bidder must have certified its Washington Small Business status in Washington’s Electronic Business Solution (WEBS). See, RCW 39.26.010(22) & (13).

Washington Small Business can also include Mini-businesses and Microbusinesses. Such firms just have a small ‘size’ requirement:

· Mini-business Size Requirement: The firm must be owned and operated independently from all other businesses and have a gross revenue of at least $1,000,000 but less than $3,000,000 annually as reported on the firm’s federal income tax return or its return filed with the Washington Department of Revenue. See, RCW 39.26.010(17).

· Microbusiness Size Requirement: The firm must be owned and operated independently from all other businesses and has a gross revenue of less than $1,000,000 annually as reported on the firm’s federal income tax return, or its return filed with the DOR. See, RCW 39.26.010(16).

Section 2: Instructions for completing the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors Form below.

Bidder who, if awarded a Contract, intends to use subcontractors, must complete the following Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors form.

1. As part of the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors, bidder is encouraged to include an anticipated list of small/diverse subcontractors who may assist bidder in fulfilling bidder’s contractual obligations, if bidder is awarded a Contract pursuant to this Competitive Solicitation. This list should identify any subcontractors who are small/diverse businesses as defined above.

· The businesses included in the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors are listed as examples of the businesses that bidder may use as subcontractors and does NOT obligate bidder to use those specific businesses in performing the Contract, if awarded.

· If awarded, the bidder’s Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractor will be incorporated into the terms and conditions of the resulting Contract and bidder will report performance and progress to PLIA as set forth in the Contract and in contract management meetings.

2. Bidder is to describe their efforts in engaging and reducing any barriers to participation by small/diverse businesses, including outreach, education/mentorship, and process changes designed to increase small/diverse business participation.

3. If the proposed subcontractors are self-identified diverse businesses, bidder will encourage and support efforts for their certification with the appropriate Washington State agencies.

4. PLIA will review the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors for a genuine effort and the maximum opportunity to contribute towards the agency’s aspirational goals. Awarded bidders who use subcontractors may meet with PLIA Contract Managers regarding their small/diverse business aspirational inclusion goals and efforts set forth in their Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors.

5. The small/diverse business goals set forth herein are voluntary. Bidders will not be considered non-responsive if the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors has a zero small/diverse business participation amount. PLIA, however, encourages bidders to be proactive in engaging small/diverse business participation. No preference will be included in the evaluation of bids based on the Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors. No minimum level of small/diverse business participation is required as a condition for receiving a Contract award.

Section 3. Form for the Bidder’s Diverse Business Inclusion Plan – Subcontractors

1. BIDDER’S ANTICIPATED DIVERSE BUSINESS PARTICIPATION (GOALS)

List bidder’s anticipated small/diverse business category participation goals for subcontractor participation, if bidder is awarded a Contract. Bidders may list any goal amount. These goals are aspirational goals for bidder’s use of small/diverse business subcontractors, if awarded a Contract pursuant to this Competitive Solicitation.

2. BIDDER’S DIVERSE BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING LIST

Provide the firm information of the relevant small/diverse business subcontractors that bidder anticipates using, if awarded a Contract pursuant to this Competitive Solicitation. Please identify the names of the firms as they are listed in Washington’s Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) and provide the firm’s applicable state certification numbers (for Minority, Woman, and Veteran-Owned firms).

Minority-Owned Business

Woman-Owned Business

Veteran-Owned Business

Washington Small Business

3. DESCRIBE BIDDER’S PLAN TO MEET OR EXCEED BIDDER’S VOLUNTARY DIVERSE BUSINESS INCLUSION PLAN – SUBCONTRACTORS GOALS, INCLUDING OUTREACH.

Response:

BIDDER’S COMMITMENT:

Bidder commits to a make a genuine effort to achieve the proposed subcontract amounts with small/diverse business subcontractors as stated above. Bidder will develop a comprehensive outreach strategy that will engage small/diverse businesses registered with the state of Washington in WEBS.

_____________________________ ________________________________ Signature of Bidder’s authorized person Print Name of Bidder’s authorized person Dated Signed

Return this Bidder’s Certification to Procurement Coordinator at:

xyzlinda.vanevery@plia.wa.gov COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION NO. RFP 23-005 FINANCIAL ASSURANCE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES EXHIBIT E –-DIVERSE BUSINESS INCLUSION PLAN-SUBCONTRACTORS PAGE 1 (Rev 2024-04-25)