Section 1.531. Responsibilities of Commonwealth agencies

1. Commonwealth agencies shall seek to provide maximum practicable opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses to compete for contracts and grants and to participate as contractors, professional service providers, subcontractors, and suppliers, and shall in good faith make their best efforts to reach the ten percent aspirational goal. At a minimum, Commonwealth agencies shall:

(1) Inform the Department of General Services’ Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities of contracting opportunities and competitive grant opportunities at the same time that it advertises or otherwise posts public notices of such opportunities.

(2) Participate in outreach activities and events to increase small disadvantaged business interest and participation in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) opportunities.

(3) Use the Department of General Services’ web site (www.dgs.state. pa.us) to identify Department of General Services-certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) and small women business enterprises (WBEs) for solicitation for ARRA opportunities.

(4) Track and report to the Department of General Services information on MBE and WBE participation in ARRA opportunities.