Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) Information
The Department has determined that Bidders responding to this solicitation must comply with DVBE
Program requirements. Instructions for completing DVBE program requirements are found in
Attachment V, DVBE Program Requirements (DWR Form 9526). Please review these instructions
carefully. Failure to fulfill the DVBE requirement will render your bid non-responsive and shall
be cause for bid rejection.
This solicitation also contains DVBE Incentive language within Attachment V. The DVBE Incentive
offers bidders an incentive calculation when they include DVBE subcontractors in their bid efforts.
Application of the Incentive may place the bidder in line for bid award. Minimum incentive applied will
be three (3) percent, not to exceed five (5) percent.
Please review DVBE Incentive Language and form contained within this solicitation for additional
information. If a bidding firm is not a California Certified Small Business and wishes to be considered for the small
business calculation preference for this solicitation, bidder application for small business must be
received by the Department of General Services, Office of Small and DVBE Business Services (OSDS)
by the bid due date by close of business. Bidders seeking small business certification status must also
notify the State in writing at the time of bid submission that they have an application for Small Business
certification for review and approval at the DGS-OSDS.
Contact the DGS Office of Small Business and DVBE Services (OSDS) at internet website For additional assistance meeting DVBE program requirements or inquiries about Small Business
certification, please contact the Department of Water Resources SB/DVBE Program Manager at (916)
820-7833, or email SB.DVBE@water.ca.gov. Technical questions must be submitted by March 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Technical questions must be submitted in writing to marcanthony.rosales@water.ca.gov and
received by the State on or before March 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. The State's representatives will
provide answers in writing to all potential bidders by March 13, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Small Business Preference Program
1. The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act (Gov. Code Section 14835 et. seq.)
requires that a fair share of the State's purchases and contracts for goods, information
technology services and construction be placed with a certified Small Business (SB) or
Micro-Business (MB). The Act mandates that state agencies:
a. Establish participation goals,
b. Provide a 5% small business calculation preference, and
c. Provide the opportunity for bidders to receive a 5% non-small business
calculation preference when achieving 25% small business participation through
subcontracted efforts. SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE
The Small Business preference offers certified SB's and MB's a calculation preference in
the amount of five percent (5%) of the lowest responsible bid submitted by a bidder who
is not a certified small business. The SB preference is used as a calculation for
determining the lowest bidder and does not affect the actual price bid.
The State will grant SB's a five percent (5%) Small Business preference on a bid
evaluation when a responsible non-small business (NSB) has submitted the lowestpriced, responsive bid pursuant to the evaluation of a solicitation method when a small
business:
a. Includes in its bid a notification to the awarding department that it is a small
business or that it has submitted to DGS Office of Small Business & Disabled
Veteran Business Enterprise Services (OSDS) a complete application no later
than 5:00 p.m. on the bid due date, and is subsequently certified by DGS as a
small business; and
b. Submits a timely, responsive bid; and
c. Has been determined to be a responsible bidder.
Bidders having pending Small Business or DVBE Certification applications under review
by DGS, concurrent with the bid time frame should contact DGS/OSDS to request an
expedite review/approval of their application in order to be considered for the SB
preference during the evaluation of this bid.
Contact DGS/OSDS at (916) 375-4940 to obtain information about the application
expedite process.
Bidders must notify the State in writing at the time of bid submission that they have an
application for Small Business or DVBE certification under review at the DGS Office of
Small and Disabled Veteran Business Certification, and that they wish to be considered
for the Small Business Preference Calculation. NON-SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE
Non-small business bidders will be granted a five percent (5%) non-small business
preference on a bid evaluation when a responsible non-small business has agreed to
subcontract at least 25 percent of their bid price with a California certified Small
Business and if the non-small business bidder's bid is not the low price bid, or when a
proposal has been not been ranked as the highest scored bid pursuant to the evaluation
of the solicitation. Responding bidders must:
a. Include in its bid a notification to the awarding department that it commits to
subcontract at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its net bid price with one or more
California certified small business(s),
b. Submit a timely bid as specified in the bid document,
c. Be determined to be a responsive, responsible bidder and
d. Identify the California certified small business(s) it commits to subcontract with. The
bidder shall list certified Small Business subcontractors and include their name,
address, phone number, a description of the work to be performed, and the
percentage (as specified in the solicitation) per subcontractor.
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