The Director of the Office of Business Opportunity Department is requesting Council approval of an Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2020-944 to increase the maximum contract amount for a contract between the City of Houston and Houston Business Development, Inc. for administration and related services for the Office of Business Opportunity in connection with the City’s Small Business Economic Relief Program for small businesses who have been affected by COVID-19.
The Amendment is to provide a third additional allocation of $10,000,000.00 from the City's CARES Act 2020 Fund, as authorized by City Council via Ordinance 2020-944 to provide immediate and short-term grant assistance to small businesses that were and are continuing to be severely and negatively impacted economically as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic during the period of March 1, 2020, and ends December 30, 2020.
MWBE Participation:
An 11% MWBE goal is assigned to the contract.
Pay or Play:
The contract requires compliance with the City's Pay or Play Ordinance regarding health benefits for employees of City contractors. In this case, the Contractor provides health benefits for eligible employees in compliance with City policy.
Hire Houston First:
The proposed procurement may be funded by a federal grant; therefore, exempt from the "Hire Houston First (HHF)" Ordinance that promotes economic opportunity for Houston businesses and supports job creation.
Disaster Note:
This item is related to the impact of COVID-19 and expenditures eligible to be paid under the federal funding source are subject to applicable requirements of the Federal Government related to the funding source.
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Lalla V. Morris, Assistant Director for Marsha E. Murray, Director
Office of Business Opportunity