Before implementing the Spending Allocation Goals Program, watch the Informational Session video for an overview of the process.

When you are ready to initiate your purchase, use the SBE and MBE Spending Allocation Goal Search Tool to identify the applicable three-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and the corresponding SBE and MBE Spending Allocation Goals for your purchase. The search tool maps State of Connecticut account codes and descriptions to the applicable three-digit NAICS codes.

• Review the account codes or descriptions in the search tool and identify the one that best represents the primary purpose of the purchase.
  • If the purchase includes multiple products or services, select the description that best reflects the primary purpose.
  • If you cannot identify an appropriate account code description, review the three-digit NAICS categories and select the industry that would typically provide the primary product or service.
• Locate the corresponding NAICS code, SBE goal, and MBE goal in the chart.

If your agency uses Core-CT, be prepared to share the account code with the individual that enters requisitions, purchase orders, and p-card transactions in Core-CT.

After identifying the applicable Spending Allocation Goal, determine whether certified Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) or Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) are available. The steps depend on the purchasing method.

• Existing Contracts: 
  • Review the available contracted vendors to determine availability of SBEs and MBEs. CTsource indicates whether vendors on the contract are certified SBEs or MBEs.
  • Include certified vendors when gathering quotes as appropriate.
  • For single-vendor or no-vendor-choice purchases, document that no meaningful opportunity existed to solicit another vendor. 

• General Letter 71 Purchases: 
  • Use the Small Business Certification Directory to identify certified vendors.
  • Include certified vendors when gathering quotes as appropriate.

• New Solicitations
  • Advertise opportunities on CTsource.
  • Search the Small Business Certification Directory for certified vendors.
  • Share opportunities with appropriate trade organizations.

Document good faith efforts at or near the point of purchase while the relevant purchasing decision and outreach information are available. Include:

• The relevant NAICS code and corresponding SBE/MBE goals.
• Steps taken to identify and consider certified businesses.
• If certified businesses were available but were not included, explain why

Good faith efforts focus on documenting that certified businesses were provided a fair opportunity to participate, not on demonstrating that a purchase was awarded to a certified business. Retain this documentation as the CT Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) may request it.

DAS has provided a best practice model for incorporating good faith efforts into the normal purchasing process. See links below for details on how to document good faith efforts in the Core-CT financial system and how to choose good faith effort standard comments in Core-CT.

For agencies that use Core-CT:

• Be prepared to share the good faith effort code with the individual that enters requisitions, purchase orders, and p-card transactions in Core-CT.
• For P-card purchases that use a requisition or purchase order for the individual purchase, agencies should follow the normal Core-CT process and select the good faith effort standard comment that best matches the underlying purchasing scenario. For P-card activity that is captured through a blanket P-card purchase order, agencies should use GFE9: P-card, separate documentation on the blanket purchase order.