Responsibilities of city departments; department utilization plan.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 15-84.1
in effectSec. 15-84.1. - Responsibilities of city departments; department utilization plan.
(a) Each department director shall be accountable for the oversight and implementation of the following activities:
(1) Informing MWSBE organizations or associations of the department's procurement procedures and future procurement opportunities;
(2) Ensuring that department bid solicitations and requests for proposals are sent to MWSBEs in a timely manner;
(3) Referring MWSBEs to technical assistance services available from the office of business opportunity and other organizations that provide such services;
(4) Reviewing each request for waiver or modification of participation goals prior to its submission to the office of business opportunity for approval;
(5) Monitoring the department's procurement activities to ensure compliance with and progress towards the city-wide participation goals; and
(6) Providing the OBO director with the departmental utilization plan prescribed in subsection (b) of this section and any other documentation requested by the office of business opportunity necessary in evaluating a department's progress in achieving city-wide participation goals.
(b) Each department that has procured goods and services in excess of three million dollars during the fiscal year ending on June 30 th of the preceding calendar year shall be required to submit a departmental utilization plan for the following fiscal year commencing on July 1 st . Departmental utilizations plans shall be submitted on or before June 15, 2014, and not later than June 15 th of each calendar year thereafter.
(c) Each department director shall be responsible for creating, submitting, and implementing an annual departmental utilization plan that shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) The department's forecast of anticipated projects and contract specific goals for the upcoming fiscal year;
(2) A detailed, written explanation for any departmental goal that is not consistent with the overall city-wide goals for MWSBE participation;
(3) A list of the names and titles of department personnel responsible for the implementation of the departmental utilization plan;
(4) The methods and relevant activities proposed for achieving the department's participation goals; and
(5) Any other information the department director deems relevant or necessary.
(d) Upon review by the OBO director, all departmental utilization plans shall be submitted to the mayor and city council for final approval.
(e) A departmental utilization plan may be amended to reflect changes in the department's projected procurements, expenditures, or other relevant circumstances and resulting changes in the department's participation goals. Such amendments shall be submitted to the OBO director for review and shall be submitted to city council for final approval not less than 30 days prior to the proposed date of implementation.
(f) Each department director shall be accountable for setting and making reasonable efforts to meet the participation goals stated its departmental utilization plan. Departments shall, at minimum, engage in outreach activities that encourage eligible businesses to apply for certification as MWSBEs and encourage MWSBEs to participate in all facets of the procurement process and compete for city contracts, including contracts awarded by negotiated acquisition and emergency and sole source contracts.
(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_S15-84.1REDEDEUTPLFetched: 10/26/2026