Disabled veteran business enterprises.

Under existing law, the administering agency for the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program is the Department of General Services, except in the case of contracts for professional bond services. Existing law requires the Director of General Services to adopt written policies and guidelines establishing a uniform process for state contracting to provide a disabled veteran business enterprise (DVBE) participation incentive to bidders, which all state agencies are required to use when awarding contracts. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that every state procurement authority meet or exceed a DVBE participation goal of a minimum of 3% of total contract value. Existing law requires a department awarding a contract to, upon completion of that contract, require the prime contractor that entered into a subcontract with a DVBE to certify specified information to the awarding department, including, among other things, the amount each DVBE received from the prime contractor. This bill would require that information to include proof of payment for work done by the DVBE, upon request of the awarding department, and the amount and percentage of work the prime contractor committed to provide to one or more DVBEs under the contract. The bill would also require every state contract for which DVBE participation is included in the bid to contain a provision requiring the contractor to comply with all rules, regulations, ordinances, and statutes that apply to the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program. Existing law allows a prime contractor to replace a DVBE identified by the prime contractor in its bid or offer with another DVBE. This bill would instead require the prime contractor to use the DVBE subcontractors or suppliers proposed in the bid or proposal to the state unless a substitution is requested and approved, as specified. Existing law requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to appoint the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Advocate and requires the advocate to perform certain duties, including disseminating information on the program and coordinating specified reports. The bill would direct the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services to coordinate with the state advocate. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 999.5 of the Military and Veterans Code proposed by SB 588 to be operative only if this bill and SB 588 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.