Public contracts: small business participation.

The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act authorizes a state agency to award a contract for goods, services, or information technology with an estimated value of greater than $5,000 but less than $250,000 to a certified small business, including a microbusiness and a disabled veteran business enterprise, without complying with certain competitive bidding requirements, if the agency obtains price quotations from 2 or more of those businesses, as specified. Existing law requires a state agency to consider a responsive offer timely received from a responsible certified small business, including a microbusiness, or from a disabled veteran business enterprise. This bill would expand the above-described authorization to permit a state agency to award a contract for goods, services, or information technology with an estimated value of greater than $5,000 but less than $250,000 to an LGBT business enterprise, a minority business enterprise, or a women business enterprise, as defined. The bill would require a state agency to additionally consider a responsive offer timely received from any of these business enterprises.