PRESS RELEASE from DNCC and
Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee
For Immediate Release
Monday, March 12, 2012
Contact: Kristie Greco, Joanne Peters
CHARLOTTE—The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee today announced that they have adopted a diversity contracting policy for the 2012 Democratic National Convention that represents unprecedented progress toward both the inclusion and use of diverse businesses. The diversity contracting policy is in addition to practices that have been operational since the inception of both organizations to increase the participation of diverse businesses.
The policy states that the DNCC has a
goal of spending at least one third of its aggregate dollars with
Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises
(WBEs), Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and
Veteran-Owned Businesses for its contracts and projects.
“I am proud of the major steps we are taking to further strengthen our
commitment to diversity at the DNC and 2012 convention,” said
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
“Our
party values economic inclusion and shared prosperity and I believe
that this groundbreaking effort will increase opportunity for
all.”
“Never before has a host committee or a convention committee dedicated
the resources and effort to diversity contracting at the levels we see
here,” said Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, Co-chair of the Charlotte in
2012 Host Committee. “Not only will the 2012 Democratic National
Convention stand as a model for the inclusion and utilization of
diverse businesses, but it will have a lasting impact on this community
and the surrounding region for years to come.”
“The DNCC is committed to ensuring the growth and success of
underrepresented entrepreneurs,” said Steve Kerrigan, CEO of the DNCC.
“We believe our diversity policy and practices are consistent with our
mission and they reflect the importance that our stakeholders place on
the development of minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned,
LGBT-owned and disability-owned businesses in their communities.”
In October, the Democratic Party hired a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)
to advise the party and the convention on diversity staffing and
procurement. One of the CDO’s first tasks was to work with the
convention committee and the host committee on a diversity contracting
policy.
In addition, the DNCC and the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee put
tools and systems in place early on to maximize the inclusion and
utilization of diverse businesses. They include:
Below is the DNCC Diversity Contracting Policy:
DNCC
DIVERSITY POLICY
Since its inception, it has been the practice of the DNCC to
provide equal opportunity to all business enterprises to participate in
all aspects of the DNCC’s contracting and purchasing programs without
regard to race, creed, age, sex, national origin, ethnic identity,
physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, economic
status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other
legally protected basis. The DNCC has and will continue to conduct
outreach and informational programs with constituent groups,
businesses, and trade associations to prevent discrimination against
any person or business enterprise on the basis of any of these factors.
Recognizing that some individuals, groups and business enterprises,
including Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises,
Disability-Owned Business Enterprises, LGBT-Owned Businesses and
Veteran-Owned Businesses, have not historically received opportunities
to participate equally in contracting opportunities and to ensure and
reaffirm the DNCC’s continuing commitment to progress and success in
achieving the goal of equal opportunity, the DNCC adopts the following
diversity policy:
“Disability-Owned Business” means a business enterprise which is Owned
and Operated by one or more persons with disabilities.
“LGBT-Owned Business” means a business enterprise which is Owned
and Operated by one or more gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender
(“LGBT”) persons.
“Minority Business Enterprise” or “MBE” means a business enterprise
which is Owned and Operated by one or more of the following ethnic
minority groups: African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American /
Pacific Islander and Native American.
“Owned and Operated” means (1) the business enterprise is at least
51% owned by one or more of the respective diversity groups, or in the
case of any corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships,
at least 51% of the voting stock or interests, as applicable, is owned
by one or more of the respective diversity groups and (2) the
management and daily business operations of the business enterprise are
controlled by one or more of the respective diversity groups.
“Women Business Enterprise” or “WBE” means a business enterprise which
is Owned and Operated by one or more women.
“Veteran-Owned Business” means a business enterprise which is Owned and
Operated by one or more veterans.
An MBE, WBE, Disability-Owned Business, LGBT-Owned Business or
Veteran-Owned Business may establish its qualification by providing to
the DNCC:
The DNCC has a goal of spending at
least one third of its aggregate dollars with MBEs, WBEs,
Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned
Businesses for its contracts and projects.
It is the policy of the DNCC to provide minorities, women, persons
with disabilities, LGBT persons and veterans equal opportunity to
participate in all aspects of contracting and purchasing programs,
including but not limited to participation in procurement contracts for
materials, supplies and equipment, and contracts for construction.
It is further the policy of the DNCC to prohibit discrimination
against any person or business enterprise on the basis of race, color,
ethnic identity, sex, creed, age, national origin, physical or mental
disability, veteran status, marital status, economic status, religion,
sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected
status, and to conduct its contracting and purchasing programs so as to
prevent such discrimination.
It is the policy of the DNCC in concert with the Host Committee or
other local, state and federal agencies and with the assistance of
minority, women, persons with disabilities, LGBT and veteran groups and
agencies, actively to seek and identify qualified MBEs, WBEs,
Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses, and Veteran-Owned
Businesses, and to offer them the opportunity to participate, and to
encourage them to participate, in contracting and purchasing programs.
It is not the policy of the DNCC to provide information or other
opportunities to MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned
Businesses, or Veteran-Owned Businesses that will not be available to
all other business enterprises. It is the intent of this policy to
establish procedures designed to assure MBEs, WBEs, Disability-Owned
Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses, and Veteran-Owned Businesses access
to information and opportunities available to other business
enterprises. It is the intent of this policy to widen opportunities for
participation, to increase competition, and to reduce costs.
The DNCC will award contracts without regard to race, religion,
color, ethnic identity, creed, national origin, sex, age, physical or
mental disability, veteran status, marital status, economic status,
sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected
status. The DNCC will award contracts to the bid that best meets the
requirements of the DNCC. Neither the DNCC nor the Host Committee
is
bound to accept the lowest offer or any tender submitted.
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