Program elements.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 15-83
in effectSec. 15-83. - Program elements.
(a) Based upon a review of annual awards and purchases by affected city departments, the office of business opportunity shall each year submit a progress report to the city council. The report shall include two percentage figures that are intended to as closely as possible represent the ratio of the prior year's measured utilization and availability of local MWSBEs to do business in:
(1) The supply of goods and nonpersonal or nonprofessional services; and
(2) The performance of personal or professional services;
to the prior year's total local business community utilization and availability to do business in each of the two named fields of city contracting.
In addition, the report shall include percentage figures that are intended to as closely as possible represent the ratio of the prior year's measured utilization and availability of local MWSBEs to do business in construction to the prior year's total local business community utilization and availability to do business in city construction contracting. The report may also include figures and other evidence of factors prescribed in Part 26, Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations in the year the report is made that may affect the aforementioned ratio of utilization and availability.
(b) Based upon the measured utilization and availability and any other relevant factors prescribed in Part 26, Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and identified in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) above, city council shall from time to time set annual city-wide percentage goals for city contracting with MWSBEs in each of the two named categories described in subsection (a)(1) and (2) above and for contracting with MWSBEs in the construction category. The adjustment, if any, in the percentage goals shall be made during the first quarter of the fiscal year.
(c) It is the responsibility of each city department to determine which contracts initiated by it are goal-oriented contracts and which are regulated contracts. If the determination is made that a contract is a goal-oriented contract or a regulated contract, the initiating department shall review the contract and shall determine, by reference to the MWSBE register, the number of certified MWSBEs in each of the two named categories described in subsection (a)(1) and (2), above, and for construction, the number of certified MWSBEs in the construction category. The initiating department director or his or her designee shall determine whether the contract is one to which MWSBE provisions should be applied.
(1) These provisions are not required to be applied in the following circumstances:
a. A public or administrative emergency exists which requires the goods or services to be provided with unusual immediacy;
b. The service or goods requested are of such a specialized, technical or unique nature as to require the city department to be able to select its contractor without application of MWSBE provisions (such as contracts for expert witnesses, certain financial advisors or technical consultants);
c. If application of MWSBE provisions would impose an unwarranted economic burden or risk on the city or unduly delay acquisition of the goods or services, or would otherwise not be in the best interest of the city; or
d. If the possible MWSBE participation level based on MWSBE availability would produce negligible MWSBE participation.
If one of the above-listed conditions is determined to exist, the department director shall certify that determination in writing prior to the award of the contract, specifying the conditions which lead to the determination, and submit the determination to the OBO director for review and approval.
(2) If the contract does not fall within one of the above-listed exceptions, based upon its overall review, the initiating department shall assign an appropriate MWSBE participation level, if any, for the contract (whether goal-oriented or regulated) considering the local availability of certified MWSBEs in the contract field.
The intention of this article is to provide administrative flexibility in the application of MWSBE provisions of this Code and in the percentage participation level on a contract-by-contract basis so as not to limit access to city contracting by nonminority-owned, nonwomen-owned or established business enterprises to a greater degree than necessary to meet the city-wide annual goal and the policies and objectives of this article.
(d) The bidding documents and the contract documents for goal-oriented contracts for which a MWSBE participation level has been established shall contain a provision detailing the purposes and objectives of the city's MWSBE ordinance and shall incorporate by reference this article and the then-current motion or ordinance establishing MWSBE annual goals. Regulated contracts which are determined to have significant subcontracting potential for which a MWSBE participation level has been established shall contain contractual provisions (and proposal provisions if submitted for proposals or for bids) requiring the contractor to meet or exceed the determined MWSBE participation level for that contract, or to establish that it has made good-faith efforts to do so, and that notwithstanding such efforts, was unable to meet or exceed the determined participation levels. The OBO director shall establish procedures defining good-faith efforts. These procedures will be reviewed and approved by the mayor and the city attorney.
(Ord. No. 2013-428, § 10(Exh. A), 5-8-2013, eff. 7-1-2013)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH15CO_ARTVMIWOSMBUEN_S15-83PRELFetched: 10/26/2026