Existing law creates the Purchasing Division within the Department of Administration. (NRS 232.213) Section 2 of this bill establishes certain policies of this State relating to small businesses and microbusinesses. Section 3 of this bill defines “microbusiness” as a business: (1) with an annual gross revenue of less than $75,000 that employs not more than nine persons; or (2) that exclusively provides professional services and that has one employee who is the owner of the business. Section 3: (1) creates the Business Opportunity Outreach Unit within the Purchasing Division; and (2) requires the Administrator of the Purchasing Division to appoint a Director of the Business Opportunity Outreach Unit. Section 3 also requires the Business Opportunity Outreach Unit to: (1) conduct outreach to minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, local emerging small businesses and microbusinesses to inform such businesses of contracting and procurement opportunities; (2) provide training and assistance to minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, local emerging small businesses and microbusinesses to assist such businesses in obtaining government contracts and participating in the state and local governmental procurement process; (3) develop and implement an online data dashboard to provide information pertaining to the awarding of government contracts and purchase orders; (4) submit an annual report to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Revenue and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau or, if the Legislature is not in session, to the Legislative Commission, relating to the online data dashboard; (5) establish a database of minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, local emerging small businesses and microbusinesses in coordination with state and local agencies who maintain similar databases; (6) establish annual goals concerning the awarding of contracts to minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, local emerging small businesses and microbusinesses; (7) establish a program to facilitate microbusinesses in joining together to submit a proposal or bid on procurement contracts; (8) coordinate with existing diversity supplier programs implemented by other governmental entities or organizations within the State; (9) consolidate information contained in reports submitted to the Office of Economic Development concerning local emerging small businesses; (10) prepare and submit a report to the Purchasing Division regarding the policies and programs implemented by the Unit; and (11) provide transparency into the state and local governmental procurement process. Section 3 further requires all state and local governmental agencies to cooperate with the Business Opportunity Outreach Unit. The Local Government Purchasing Act and the State Purchasing Act govern the purchasing of services, supplies, materials and equipment by local governments and, with certain exceptions, agencies of the Executive Department of the State Government, respectively. (Chapters 332 and 333 of NRS) Sections 5 and 8 of this bill require local governing bodies and the Administrator of the Purchasing Division to adopt procedures for microbusinesses to: (1) submit proposals for or bid on contracts for goods and services; and (2) join together to submit a proposal or bid or satisfy any bonding or insurance requirements of the local governing or using agencies of the Executive Department. Section 8 of this bill also requires the Administrator of the Purchasing Division to establish procedures, where possible, to prioritize receiving proposals for or bids on contracts for goods and services from local emerging small businesses, including microbusinesses, and to encourage awarding contracts to such businesses. Sections 6 and 7 of this bill require local governments and using agencies of the Executive Department to cooperate with and submit information to the Business Opportunity Outreach Unit.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 333.135
Reprint 1: 333.135
BDR: 333.135