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426 <br /> <br />The Board also has a policy to prohibit discrimination against any person or <br />business enterprise on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, sex, or religion <br />and to conduct its building contract programs so as to prevent such <br />discrimination. <br /> <br />Definitions <br />The following definitions, conforming to North Carolina General Statute 143- <br />128(c) apply to this section of the purchasing policy: <br /> <br />The term 'minority business' means a business: <br /> 1. In which at least 51% is owned by one or more minority persons, or <br /> in the case of a corporation, in which at least 51% of the stock is <br /> owned by one or more minority persons; and <br /> 2. Of which the management and daily business operations are controlled <br /> by one or more of the minority persons who own it. <br />The term 'minority person' means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent <br />resident of the United States and who is: <br /> 1. Black, that is, a person having origins in any of the black racial <br /> groups in Africa; <br /> 2. Hispanic, that is, a person of Spanish or Portuguese culture with <br /> origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands, <br /> regardless of race; <br /> 3. Asian American, that is, a person having origins in any of the <br /> original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia and Asia, the Indian <br /> subcontinent, the Pacific Islands; <br /> 4. American Indian or Alaskan Native, that is, a person having origins <br /> in any of the original peoples of North America; or <br /> 5.White Female. <br /> <br />Guidelines for Contractors <br />The County shall require bidders on major construction and renovation projects <br />to provide assurances in writing that they will make a good-faith effort to <br />solicit minority businesses as subcontractors should they be awarded the <br />construction contract. The successful bidder shall provide the following <br />information to the County: <br /> <br />1. The names and addresses of minority businesses that will participate <br /> in the contract and the names of minority businesses contacted but <br /> not participating; <br />2. A description of the work each named minority business will perform; <br />3. The dollar amount of participation by each named minority business; <br /> and <br />4. Copies of any advertisements or correspondence the bidder has used <br /> to attract minority subcontractors. <br /> <br />A contractor's good-faith effort to involve minority business firms in the <br />project can be demonstrated by using, among other factors, the following: <br /> <br />1. Attending any pre-solicitation and pre-bid meetings that are scheduled <br /> by the County to inform minority businesses of contracting and <br /> subcontracting opportunities; <br />2. Advertising in general circulation, trade association, and minority- <br /> focus media concerning the subcontracting opportunities; <br />3. Providing written notice to a reasonable number of minority businesses <br /> that their interest in subcontracting is being solicited, in <br /> sufficient time to allow the minority businesses to participate; <br />4. Following up initial solicitations of interest by contacting minority <br /> businesses to determine with certainty whether the minority business <br /> are interested; <br />5. Providing interested minority businesses with equal access to <br /> specifications, plans and requirements of the contracts; <br />6. Negotiating in good-faith with interested minority businesses and not <br /> rejecting minority businesses without sound reasons after a thorough <br /> investigation of their capabilities; and <br />7. Using the services of available minority community organizations, <br /> minority contractors' groups, local, state and federal minority <br /> business assistance offices, and other organizations that provide <br /> assistance in the recruitment and placement of minority businesses. <br /> <br /> <br />