Office for Historically
Underutilized Businesses
Statewide Uniform Certification (SWUC) Program
NC League of Municipalities
2011 Annual Conference: Good Government. Great Hometowns.
Presented by:
Bridget Wall-Lennon, Director
Sheryl Cromedy, Lead Certification Specialist
Agenda

Overview of Office for Historically
Underutilized Businesses (HUB Office)

Statewide Uniform Certification (SWUC)
Program

Application and Certification Process

HUBSCO Reporting Requirements

Questions and Answers
Mission
To promote economic opportunities for
historically underutilized businesses in
state government contracting and
procurement that will foster growth and
profitability.
Program Core Services
Certification Program
Training:
HUBSCO, How to Do
Business
Outreach Program
Advocacy
Policy Development &
Implementation
Program Compliance
& Reporting
Construction Monitoring
& Outreach
Statewide Uniform Certification
(SWUC) Program
 N.C.G.S.143-48.4 and 143-128.4 (Formerly
Senate Bill 320)
 Passed & Signed during the 2007 Legislative
Session
 Implemented in July 2009

Provided Secretary of Administration Authority
to:
•
•
•
Develop and administer a program for the certification
of a HUB firms as defined in N.C.G.S. 143-128.4
Create a single database of certified HUB firms
Adopt rules and procedures
SWUC Collaboration
 Collaborative development to:
•
reduce redundancy
• best practices and processes
• increase overall efficiency of system
development
Application and
Certification Process
Who Should Apply

Firms that are at least 51% owned,
operated and controlled
 By a minority, woman, disabled (person with
a disability), Disadvantaged (socially and
economically individuals)
 HUB Eligibility Criteria (N.C.G.S. 143-128.4
and 143-48.4)
Application and
Certification Process
HUB Certification Categories
 Minority:

Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American
Indian
 Female
 Disabled
- Person with a Disability
 Disadvantaged-Socially and Economically
Application and
Certification Process
How to Initiate HUB Certification
 Go to HUB Office’s Website:
www.doa.nc.gov/hub
 Register in IPS/Vendor Link as Vendor
 Apply for HUB Certification
•
•
•
Click “Certification”
Click “Request HUB Certification”
Click “Vendor Registration / HUB Certification”
Application and
Certification Process
the Electronic Registration page – read
terms and if satisfied, Click “Accept”
 Complete all applicable information
 On the last page – Click “Registration
Complete”
 On
Application and
Certification Process
Required Documents





Return to: www.doa.nc.gov/hub
Click: “Statewide Uniform Certification (SWUC)”
Quick Links Box
Go to: “Listing of Documents and Forms”
Click: “Required Certification Documents (pdf)”
Click: “SWUC Certification Application (pdf)”

Based on your business type, submit required
documents.
Application and
Certification Process
When to Submit Documents

Application and Required Documents must be
submitted within 30 days from completion of
request for Certification
 Electronic Reminder, if not received within 15
days
 Withdrawals


HUB Office may withdraw, if documents not received
Vendors may also request withdrawal
Application and
Certification Process
Complete Package Sent To
Mailing Address:
North Carolina Department of Administration
Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses
1336 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1336
Location Address: (hand delivery)
116 W. Jones Street, Suite 4109
Raleigh, NC 27603
SWUC Benefits

Streamlined certification process of minority,
women, disabled, and disadvantaged owned
businesses
 Uniform standards and procedures for
certification
 Annual Status Update and four-year
reapplication cycles
 Single database to be used by all state
departments, agencies, institutions, political
subdivisions, and local municipalities
SWUC Benefits

Companies input and control their own
information, which can be changed at any time.

HUB firms receive next day e-mail notification of
procurement opportunities that are posted on the
IPS website.

Search engine enables anyone to locate your
company and associated goods, commodities,
and construction services.

HUB firm’s information is available to all state
agencies and the public. (Free Business
Publicity )
What are the Reporting
Requirements

Statutes and House Bill for Reporting Contracts
Senate Bill 914, Session Law 2001 - 496, December 6, 2001
• G.S. 143-128.2 – Goals
• G.S. 143-128.3 – Administration
• G.S. 143-131 – Informal bidding, effective date: January 1,
2002
• G.S. 143-129 – Formal bidding, effective date: January 1, 2002
House Bill 73, Session Law 2007-446
• Threshold changes, effective date: August 23, 2007
Construction Project Thresholds
 Formal
Construction
Projects

>= $500,000
 Informal
Construction
Projects

>= $30,000 < $500,000
Informal Projects (G.S. 143-131)

No requirement to formally
advertise bids.

Lowest responsible,
responsive bidder with
contract

Require to maintain a
record of minority
contractors solicited and of
all recruitment efforts
Formal Projects (G.S. 143-129)
Requirements

Performance and Payment bonds for
each contract over $50,000; that is a part
of a project cost over $300,000.

Construction or repair projects costing
over $300,000 must use only Single
Prime, Separate Prime, Dual bidding,
construction manager at risk, or
alternative methods.

G. S. 143-128.2 sets out Goals for local
governments to encourage HUB
Participation
Minority Business Participation
Goal (G.S. 143-128.2)

State percentage goal

Local Government percentage goal

Good Faith Efforts
Good Faith Efforts

A public entity shall develop a Minority Business
Participation Outreach Plan

Public entities, General Contractors and First-tier
subcontractors shall adhere to the statutory good
faith efforts

Public Entity Non-Compliance with G.S. 143-128.2
shall necessitate the development of a plan of
compliance that addresses any deficiencies
identified

Failure to implement a corrective plan could lead to a
review by the HUB Office and the Attorney General’s
Office before the public entity can bid another
contract
Who is required to report?

ALL PUBLIC ENTITIES (Including)

State Agencies

Universities

Community Colleges

All Local Government Entities
Municipalities
Counties
Local School Units
Special Districts
and Other special purpose local governments
What to report?
With respect to each building project:







Verifiable Percentage Goal
Type of Project
Minority business utilization by category
Trade
Total dollar value of contracts
Total dollar amount of project (construction
and design
Applicable good faith effort guidelines or
rules
What is the HUBSCO
Construction Reporting System?
 Web
based application
 Formal
and informal construction
projects
Procedures for HUBSCO Access

Visit our website at http://www.doa.state.nc.us/hub/

Print out and complete HUBSCO Access Form
http://www.doa.state.nc.us/hub/hubscofm.doc

Fax the completed Access Form to Mathew Idiculla at 919-8072335.

Access will be granted to the training site with a user ID and a
password.
Procedures for HUBSCO Access

Mail original Access form including all signatures and you will
be granted access to the live production site.
HUB Office Address
State of North Carolina
Department of Administration
Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses
1336 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-133
Municipalities – HUBSCO Reports
October 24, 2011

95 Municipalities – Registered to HUBSCO System

50 Municipalities – Reported Construction Projects




Include 33 Cities , 14 Towns and 3 Villages
1054 Construction Projects Reported
456 (43%) of all Construction Projects Reported by City of Winston-Salem
2010 -11 Minority Business Participation 14.85%


Total Construction Contract $78,072,892
Total Minority Participation $11,595,970
We Are Here to Assist YOU!
Bridget Wall-Lennon, Director
Management & Office Administration
Patricia Jones, Office Manager
Traci Fleming, Office Assistant
Compliance Section
Mathew Idiculla, Compliance Specialist
Jerry Ryan, Statistician
Outreach & Certification Section
Sheryl Cromedy, Lead Certification Specialist
Cassandra Herndon, Certification/Outreach
Lena Robertson-Ridley, Outreach Coordinator
Grover Burthey, Construction Coordinator
Web: www.doa.nc.gov/hub
(919) 807-2330 Phone
email: huboffice.doa@doa.nc
(919) 807-2335 Fax