Small Business Program
About the Program
The City defines a Small Business as any person or corporate entity holding a recognized certification that, among the certification's requirements, includes compliance with the U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Size Standard.
The Austin City Council and the City Manager’s Office recognize that a strong and active small business community is essential to Austin’s long-term economic health and sustainability. To support the policy objectives set by Council and City leadership, Austin Financial Services oversees the Small Business Procurement Program. This program uses a range of formal and informal procedures and administrative policies to encourage and increase small business participation in City contracts and purchases.
Currently, the City recognizes the following certifications in determining a Small Business for purposes of this program:
City of Austin
- Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE)
- Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
- Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
City of Houston
- Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)
- Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
- Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
- Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprises (PDBE)
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
- Airport concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE)
- LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE)
South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA)
- African American Business Enterprise (AABE)
- Asian American Business Enterprise (ABE)
- Disabled Individual Business Enterprise (DIBE)
- Emerging Small Business Enterprise (ESBE)
- Hispanic American Business Enterprise (HABE)
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
- Native American Business Enterprise (NABE)
- Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
- Veteran Owned Business (VBE)
- Woman Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRCA)
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE
- Woman Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
- Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
- Small Business Enterprises Concessionaire (SBECs)
- Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBE)
State of Texas
- Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB)
- Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
US Federal Government
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
- Women-Owned Small Business (WOSM)
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWSB)
- Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
- Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Business (SDVOBS)
- Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE)
The Small Business program does not include subcontractors or professional service contracts.
Preference Amounts
Invitation for Bids (IFB)
When applicable, if Small Business Offerors participate in Invitations for Bids (IFB) issued by the City, their bids will be discounted as follows.
Bid discounts are for purposes of the competition only and will not apply to any resulting contract.
| Contract scopes | Total value | Bid Discounts |
|---|---|---|
| Goods, general services and construction | $50,00 to $78,000 | 5% |
| Good & general services | $100,000 to $500,000 | 5% |
| Good & general services | $500,000 to $50 million | 3% |
| Good & general services | Above $50 million | 0% |
Request for Proposals (RFP)
When applicable, if Small Business Offerors participate in Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the City, their proposals will be subject to the following preference points.
| Contract scopes | Total value | Preference Points |
|---|---|---|
| Goods, general services and construction | $50,00 to $78,000 | 10 pts |
| Good & general services | $100,000 to $500,000 | 10 pts |
| Good & general services | $500,000 to $50 million | 6 pts |
| Good & general services | Above $50 million | 0 pts |