Who is an MWBE?
Minority means an individual who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is:
- (1)African American. – A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
- (2)Asian American. – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, Asia, Indian continent, or Pacific islands.
- (3)Hispanic American. – A person of Spanish or Portuguese culture having origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean islands, regardless of race.
- (4)Native American. – A person having origins in any of the original Indian peoples of North America.
- WBE means an M/WBE which is a white woman-owned business enterprise.
How do I become certified as a MWBE?
You can become certified by going to the NC HUB website that is linked below and completing the HUB Online and Paper Application.
- Instructional Video (Online application – Starts at 0:00-32:48; Paper application – Starts at 32:48))
- Online Application (“Click Register Now”)
- Paper Application (Due 30 days after you register Online)
- Required Documents (To be submitted with paper application)
Do I have to become HUB certified to work with the county?
M/WBEs do not have to be a certified minority or woman owned company to do business with the County of Durham. However, certification is encouraged and improves M/WBE’s chances of participating on County contracts and enables the County to count dollars toward M/WBE participation goals.
How does the Durham County work with MWBE’s?
The County sets M/WBE participation goals for Formal bids based on the results from a disparity study in various categories of construction and repair work, and goods and services.
Contractors submitting proposals for County projects should strive to achieve the applicable goals. If a bid does not meet the County’s goals, the bidder must provide appropriate documentation showing good faith efforts to engage M/WBE’s. Durham County currently has an aspirational goal of 25%.
Do all contracts Durham County have M/WBE participation goals?
No. Participation goals are not applicable to contracts that are not required to go through the competitive bid process as determined by monetary thresholds. However we encourage departments to to seek 1 of 3 quotes from an MWBE. See helpful chart below:
Are there resources to help me with bidding?
We can not assist with the development of your bid, however linked below are helpful resources.
- Navigating RFQ’s & RFP’s Presentation – Click Here
- Current, Closed and Awarded Durham County Bids – Click Here
- Send public records requests to purchasinggroup@dconc.gov
Still have questions? Schedule a 20 min session with our MWBE Coordinator Nadia Phillips by emailing nphillips@dconc.gov