Your Gateway to County Contracts

Welcome to our platform dedicated to connecting small businesses, community-based organizations, and diverse vendors with County contracting opportunities, contributing to a more equitable and prosperous local economy.

Contract Opportunities Continuous Contract Opportunities

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Our Impact

$1.1B in Contract Awards

to preference program certified firms in 2023-24.

3,600+

Certified firms remain active across our programs.

15-Day Payments

We pay certified vendors promptly.

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Certification Portals
Vendor Registration
Vendor Programs

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Objectives Equity in County Contracting

Small businesses and community-based organizations often face obstacles when seeking government contracts. To address these challenges, Los Angeles County launched the Equity in County Contracting (ECC) Initiative in 2021. Here is what we have been working on:

Simplifying the Process

Guiding vendors of all sizes to better understand how to do business with the County by providing standardized solicitation information, clear requirements and shortened contracting timelines.

Providing Training and Support

Providing training sessions, along with technical assistance to enhance the quality of your proposals to give you the tools you need to respond to solicitations and provide services.

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Building Through Community Partnership Programs

Collaborating with local stakeholders and community-based organizations to make the contracting process transparent and easier.

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Driving Economic Growth

Empowering diverse vendors to grow their business by tapping into the vast purchasing power of the public sector.

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Expanding Best Practices

Building upon existing methods and adopting new ways to increase small, local, and diverse vendor participation in both solicitations and awards.

Smaller Contracts for Greater Opportunities

Breaking down large contracts into smaller ones or establishing contracting tiers to create more contracting opportunities for small businesses and community-based organizations to qualify and compete for these awards.

Working together to advance equitable contracting in the County

The County is committed to implementing contracting strategies to create fair opportunities for underrepresented businesses and create a more inclusive and equitable contracting environment, enabling diverse businesses to thrive and contribute to economic growth.

Internal Services Department

Establishing a Consistent Approach

Developing a standardize system for all County contracts, providing a reliable source for businesses to understand and participate in the solicitation process.

Overseeing an Efficient Procurement Process

Implementing a modern electronic procurement solution to make County procurement more user-friendly and accessible for all businesses, community-based organizations, and County users.

Department of Economic Opportunity

Overseeing the Office of Small Business

Including its concierge, APEX Accelerator and certification programs that provides technical assistance. This is currently being expanded through the economic Mobility Initiative.

Driving Economic Recovery

Managing the $160 million in American Rescue Plan investment that revitalizes small businesses and nonprofits.

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Wins that make an impact

Accomplishments

2021 – Advancing Equity and Inclusion within County Contracts: Increasing opportunities for diverse businesses with Community Business Enterprise (CBE) that includes women and LGBTQ+ firms, through a 25% participation goal.

2023 – Ensuring Long-Term Benefits: the Board established a permanent 25% utilization goal for Local Small Business Enterprise (LSBE) and 3% for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certified firms.

Improving Cash Flow for Small Businesses: By accelerating 15-day Prompt Payments for all Preference Program Enterprise, including the Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBEs), Social Enterprise (SEs), and Local Small Business Enterprises (LSBEs), we’re significantly reducing the typical 30-day payment and improving cash flow for vendors supplying goods and services.

Implemented the Simplified Acquisition Process (SAP) Pilot Program threshold from $24,999 to $100,000 for the Internal Services, Parks and Recreation, Beaches and Harbors, and LAC+USC Hospital departments.

Streamlined the County’s model of Request For Proposals (RFP), contract documents, and the Contract Account and Administration (A-C) Handbook, improving the administrative process.

Impactful Investments: The County has implemented equity initiatives like the Infrastructure LA Equity in Infrastructure Project Pledge and the Contractor Development and Bonding Program and streamlined the certification application process into a single portal.

History: Equity in County Contracting

The Equity in County Contracting (ECC) Initiative was created by the Board of Supervisors in 2021 to:

Leverage the significant economic opportunity for local small and disinvested businesses by tapping into the purchasing power of the public sector.
Streamline, standardize, and provide governance for County Contracting and make it easier for new and existing vendors to do business with the County
Engage with community to collaboratively design County Contracting changes to promote greater equity and good governance.

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Future Goals

Establishing a centralized team to strengthen efficiency and collaboration in County contracting, as part of the Internal Services Department.

To streamline and digitize the procurement process, enhance efficiency, transparency, and access for vendors and County departments.

We will launch a Revolving Loan Fund to provide capital for small businesses and nonprofits.

Offering cash flow assistance.

Building a Stronger Economy: Expanding the Capacity of the Office of Small Business through the Economic Mobility Initiative for community partners.

Integrated with the County’s Electronic Permitting and Inspections Portal known as EPIC-LA, we will offer faster permitting and entitlements process for qualifying small businesses, especially those participating in housing and community-serving projects.

The Department of Economic Opportunity is launching a $4.8 million Business Interruption Fund for small businesses to recover from economic setbacks, including those affecting County Contracting activities like with Public Works and labor disputes.

Los Angeles County is partnering with organizations like Together for LA, Project Equity, and Inclusive Action to connect small businesses with essential resources and opportunities.

Paving the way for community microbusinesses to become future County vendors.

Definitions

The following terms are commonly used in the Purchasing and Contracting process:

Addendum

A written document attached or added to a solicitation after it has been released, to clarify, modify, or support the information in the original document. An addendum becomes part of the solicitation document.

Amendment

A change to a contract made by adding, modifying, or omitting a certain provision or term. Amended contracts, when properly executed (signed by all parties concerned), retain the legal validity of the original contract.

Bid

A document submitted by a Bidder in response to an Invitation for Bids or Request for Bids.

Bidder

One who responds to a solicitation with a bid.

Board of Supervisors

The five-member governing body of the County of Los Angeles.

Cash Discount

An allowance or deduction granted by the vendor that reduces the price of goods received. This is typically used as an incentive to pay an invoice within a specific time frame.

Commodity

A commercial article (goods).

Conference, Bidders'/Proposers

An open forum for vendors to receive clarification on the points outlined in the solicitation and ask questions concerning the solicitation.

Contract/Agreement

A legal, binding document between the County and a vendor as a result of a solicitation process. A contract may also result by a sole source determination.

Contractor

A vendor with whom the County has entered into a contractual relationship.

County

The County of Los Angeles.

Department

The departments, commissions, or committees under the jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles.

Director

The department head.

Evaluation

The process by which the County reviews and analyzes bids/proposals in comparison to established criteria and which result in the recommended selection of a contractor.

Invitation for Bids (IFB)/Request for Bids (RFB)

A solicitation based on a very specific and non-negotiable statement of work. Contract award is made to the lowest most responsible and responsive bidder.

Job Walk/Site Visit

An on-site visit by potential bidders/proposers to a location to observe the operation, layout of a facility, a system or equipment.

Living Wage

A program that requires contractors to pay its full-time employees, who provide Proposition A and Cafeteria services to the County, the applicable living wage pursuant to Los Angeles County Code, Chapter 2.201.

Master Agreement

A legal, binding document between the County and a contractor as a result of a Request for Statement of Qualifications solicitation process. The Terms and Conditions of a Master Agreement are not negotiable.

Non-responsibility

Finding a vendor incapable of performing as a responsible County contractor, based on performance history or other relevant documentation.

Non-responsive

The failure of a vendor to comply with all solicitation requirements making the Proposal/Bid/SOQ ineligible for consideration during the evaluation/review process.

Oral Interview

An interview between the Evaluation Committee and the Proposer to clarify the contents of the proposal or to conduct a product demonstration.

Proposal

A document submitted by a Proposer in response to a Request for Proposals. A Proposal provides services and/or solutions to an identified need at a particular price under given Terms and Conditions.

Proposer(s)

One who responds to a solicitation with a proposal.

Proposition A

Contracts subject to Los Angeles County Code, Chapter 2.121, which permits contracting when more economical or feasible.

Quotation

A statement of price, terms of sale, and description of goods or services offered by a vendor to the County.

Request for Information

A market survey used to solicit information and/or interest level from potential vendors, gather information on new developments/ technology in certain industries, and/or identify project price estimates for budgeting purposes. An RFI does not result in contract award.

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Solicitation based on proposed solutions in response to a defined need of the County. Contract recommended for award to the proposer who submits the proposal deemed to be in the overall best interest of the County (generally the highest-ranking proposer).

Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ)

Solicitation based on establishing a pool of pre-qualified contractors to provide services on an as needed basis through Master Agreements.

Responsible

A bidder/proposer that has conducted themselves in an acceptable manner as determined by the Board of Supervisors (see County Code 2.202.030), and has the financial and managerial ability to perform the required work.

Responsive

Vendor who submits a bid/proposal to the County that complies with all solicitation requirements.

Service

Work activity performed by a vendor to fulfill the needs of the County.

Solicitation Document

A document developed by the County to obtain bids, proposals, and other information from bidders/proposers.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

A document submitted by a vendor in response to a Request for Statement of Qualifications. SOQs provide information on the vendor’s background, experience, and financial capability in order to qualify for a Master Agreement.

Statement of Work (SOW)

A detailed statement of the services being provided or requested.

Submission Deadline

The time and date specified by the County for receipt of bids/proposals.

Vendor

An organization/company submitting a bid or proposal in response to the County's solicitation for goods and/or services.

WebVen

The County’s database and website, hosted by the Internal Services Department, used by vendors to register to do business with the County of Los Angeles.

Work Order

A document, which includes a Statement of Work, requesting bids for specific services from a pre-qualified pool of contractors that have Master Agreements. An executed Work Order becomes part of the Master Agreement.