1 / 21

Evaluation of Orange County M/WBE Certification Process

This review assesses the M/WBE certification process in Orange County, providing key findings, recommendations, and comparisons with other agencies, aiming to streamline and enhance the application and approval procedures.

Download Presentation

Evaluation of Orange County M/WBE Certification Process

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Review of Orange County M/WBE Certification Process Lloyd W. Fernald, D.B.A. Professor Emeritus University of Central Florida

  2. Overview • Findings & Recommendations • Staffing & Processing Standards • M/WBE Ordinance Provisions • Policies & Procedures Manual • Processing Statistics & Comparisons • Processing Delays • Causes for Denial • Forum Comments • Recommendations • Conclusions

  3. Staffing & Processing Standards Applications Received Backlog caused by venues: New Arena, Performing Arts, Citrus Bowl Percentage Processed within 60 days

  4. M/WBE Ordinance Provisions • “A business acting or that will act as broker, front, conduit, or pass-through shall not be certified or re-certified as an M/WBE…” • Minority Programs Historical Perspective • “Contract awards will count towards M/WBE subcontract participation only for subcontractors who are certified in a specific line of work or business for which a defined scope of work is sought at the time of bid or proposal opening.”

  5. M/WBE Ordinance Provisions • At Least 51% Ownership/ Actual Day-to-Day Management & Control • Operates Separately From Non-Minority or Woman-Owned Firm • Located in Relevant Market Area: Orlando MSA • Legally Organized • Demonstrates Capability to Perform Specific Line of Business/Provides Commercially Useful Business Function • Net Worth < $750K* *Revised to $2.3M on 8/26/09

  6. M/WBE Ordinance Provisions • Roles of the M/WBE Advisory Committee: • Provide Advice to Compliance Officer and Board • Act As Appeals Committee * • Appeals Committee Deficiencies: • Lack of Formality (Structure, Procedure, Responsibilities) • Membership Criteria/Training/Oversight? • Meeting Cancellations *As Provided for in Certification Guidelines Implementing this Ordinance and Other Policies

  7. Policies & Procedures Manual • Implements the Ordinance • Comprehensive & Detailed • Currently Being Updated • County Attorney Legal Review

  8. Processing Statistics and Comparisons • Compared Statistics with: • City of Orlando • Miami-Dade County • Palm Beach County • State of Florida • Processing Goals Vary from 30 - 90 Days • Annual Approval Percentage 75% to 85% Average for All Agencies

  9. Processing Delays • Major Causes for Delays in Processing: • Staffing/Outside Contractor • Failure by Firm to Submit • Financial Information • Articles of Incorporation and/or Organizational Structure • Other Documentation • Verifying That Firm is • “Owned” by Minority or Woman • Capability /Location

  10. Causes for Denial • Major Causes for Denial: • Submission Lacked Required Documentation • Determining Business Ethnicity/Ownership • Not in Orlando MSA • Lacked Capability/Qualifications • Review Confirmed Validity of Denials

  11. M/WBE Forum Comments • Three Most Common Suggestions: • Omit Qualifications/Capacity to Perform a Specific Line of Business • Reciprocity Between Government Organizations • Be More Proactive in Helping Firms Actually Obtain Contracts • Also Mentioned: • Eliminate Verification of Business Location • Need to Streamline/Simplify Process

  12. Staffing Recommendations • Current Staffing is Marginally Adequate • Senior Contracts Administrator • Compliance Officer • Program Specialist (Part-Time Clerical) • Train Other Staff to Perform Certification Duties

  13. Processing Standards Recommendations • Continue Current Processing (Time Frame) Standard • Workshops: • Hold More Frequently • Post Videotape Workshops on Website • Mandatory Attendance Prior to Application • Active in Business Minimum of Six Months

  14. M/WBEProceduresManual Recommendations • Update the Current Procedures Manual • Adopt the October 2009 Draft Procedures Manual as an Administrative Order, or • Approve Manual and Change Ordinance to Authorize the Compliance Officer “to Act as Provided for in Certification Guidelines Implementing this Ordinance and Other Policies”

  15. M/WBE Advisory Committee Recommendations • Advisory Committee Should Fulfill its Advisory Role Function • Improve Attendance of Committee Members at Meetings • Establish Separate M/WBE Appeals Committee with Voting members Comprised Entirely of Certified M/WBE Firms

  16. Qualifications and Ability to Perform/Market Area Recommendations • Continue Requirements: • Qualifications and Capability to Perform a Specific Line of Business • Certifying Only M/WBEs within Local Area (OMSA)

  17. Reciprocity Recommendation • Differing Requirements Among Various Agencies: • OMSA • Net Worth • Qualifications and Capability to Perform • Schedule Review After Majority of Approved Recommendations are Completed

  18. Simplification and Streamlining Recommendations • Continue Current Efforts to Improve Web Site • Application Status Log • “FAQ” Section • “What’s New” Section • “M/WBE of the Month” Section • Review Web Site on a Monthly Basis • Favorably Consider Adoption of an Interactive Certification Application Process

  19. Conclusions • Processing Time Adversely Affected by Sudden Increase in Applications • Ordinance and Manual Essentially Effective • Retain Requirements Re Ability to Perform & Location • Implement Legal Review Recommendation • Processing Goal (60 Days) Reasonable • Causes of Denial Appear Valid

  20. Conclusions • Mandatory Workshops/Active Business • Advisory Committee Changes Essential • Reciprocity • Technology/Web Site Changes/Interactive Program Will Favorably Simplify/Streamline Process

  21. Staffing & Processing Standards • Backlog (March 2009) • Venues: new arena, performing arts, Citrus Bowl • Outside Consultant: Jun 2008-May 2009 • Staff Workload • Processing Goals and Statistics

More Related