There’s a common misconception that doing business with the Department of Public Works & Engineering is only for the “big boys.”  Well here’s some good news that’ll put that rumor to rest. The Small Business Development Group (SBDG), in the Public Works and Engineering Department, is a new section established to administer the Small/ Minority/ Women Business Enterprise (S/MWBE) Program and the new City Contractors’ Pay or Play (POP) Program for the PWE Department.

SBDG will continue to explore other sources of assistance to S/MWBE’s such as:

•  Identifying participating prime/sub contractors for potential business connections.

• Fostering business connections between prime and sub contractors by holding events and meetings specific to types of contracts.

• Reviewing contracts prior to advertisement and assisting with setting realistic goals based on the actual scope of work.

• Implementing recruitment efforts to increase the number of certified S/MWBE’s.

• Conducting outreach and providing education on the business process and available opportunities.

The Pay or Play (POP) Program, established by the Mayor’s Executive Order 1-7, requires contractors to offer employees a minimal level of health benefits or to contribute a designated amount to be used to offset the costs of providing health care to uninsured people in the Houston/Harris County area.

Compliance with the program means that the contractor will either:

• “Pay” by contributing $1.00 per covered employee per hour of work performed under the City contract; or
• “Play” by providing health benefits, which meet specific standards, to covered employees. 

This program applies to contracts that fit the following guidelines:

• Contracts that are advertised after July 1, 2007

• Are valued at or above $100,000 and subcontracts valued at or above $200,000

• Utilizes employees who work any amount of time on a City contract who are over the age of 18 and work at least 30 hours per week.

For more information on the POP Program, call the POP Hotline at (713) 837-0787. For questions regarding the S/MWBE Program, call the SBDG Hotline at (713) 837-0819.