Sec. 126.615. - Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business Program Goals; Program Directives; Micro-business Program.

(a) Program Goals. The JSEB Program shall be subject to the following Program Goals: (1) JSEB Contract goals. The overall small business goal is at least 20 percent, such that the City shall award at least 20 percent of total City contracts to JSEBs; provided that such awards do not violate State or federal law and provided further that there are JSEBs to perform the work. The Chief, in consultation with the JSEB Administrator, shall award at least 50 percent of the JSEB contracts through direct contracting. (2) JSEB CIP goals. The City shall identify a goal of at least 20 percent of its work in its CIP program during the annual budget submission which shall be accomplished with JSEBs, using direct contracting opportunities and subcontracting goals. (3) JSEB Project Specific Goals. The Chief upon the recommendation of the JSEB Administrator shall establish Project Specific Goal(s) based on the availability of at least normal industry practice, as determined in consultation with the user department, the availability of at least two JSEBs to perform the functions of those individual contracts and the City's utilization of such to date. Project Specific Goal(s) shall not be set on emergency contracts as defined by City Code or for purchases made in conjunction with the State although JSEBs shall be considered for such single source or emergency procurements if qualified. (b) Department Program commitments; training. The City, through each department head, shall commit in its budget to award at least 20 percent of its contracts for services, including contractual services, professional services, professional design services, construction services or other services, to JSEBs, provided, however, that such awards shall comply with local, State, and federal law and that there exist JSEBs to perform the work. To assist the City in implementing the Program requirements of this Part, the EBO Office, through the JSEB Administrator and in consultation with the Chief of Procurement shall provide annual training to department heads and division chiefs, or their designees, and applicable staff of City boards and commissions regarding the JSEB program and the requirements set forth in this Part. (c) Direct Contracting. In implementing the Program, the JSEB Administrator shall first provide opportunities for direct contracting. Such opportunities should be created by breaking procurement packages into smaller components, and separating work that requires licenses from that which does not in separate bid or proposal requests where feasible. (d) Subcontracting. Opportunities for subcontracting through City awarded non-JSEB prime contractors should be provided within vertical construction projects, with horizontal construction project opportunities being provided to the maximum extent possible by direct contracting. Nevertheless, the subcontracting opportunities shall be provided to those trades typically established as subcontractors. (e) Joint checks; Semi-monthly payments to JSEBs. The City may issue joint checks upon the request of the JSEB in order to facilitate bonding, financing, or other requirements of contracting with the City. The City shall pay JSEBs semi-monthly, upon proper payment application to the applicable City department. City departments are to perform all necessary inspections and otherwise endeavor to ensure that prompt review and as applicable approval of JSEB work is completed within four days of receipt of invoice. The City shall pay all approved invoices from JSEBs within three business days of receipt by the Finance and Administration Department. City departments shall provide monthly statements to the Director identifying the timing of JSEB payments for contracts within their departments. These statements are to be organized and provided to the Mayor, with a copy to the City's Chief Administrative Officer ("CAO"), quarterly by the Director. Prime contractors shall be obligated to pay subcontractors within three days of receipt from the City of funds, and must confirm payment to the City. Subcontractors will be notified by the City when a payment application from a prime contractor has been submitted reflecting work performed by a subcontractor. (f) Micro-business program . The JSEB Administrator shall be responsible for developing and implementing a micro-business program. The purpose of the micro-business program shall be to ensure that a micro-business JSEB has an adequate share of direct contracting and subcontracting opportunities in the Program. To qualify as a micro-business, a for-profit JSEB shall have an annual gross revenue, averaged over the immediately preceding three-year period, not exceeding $3,000,000. Such program may include participation requirements based on tiered levels of annual averaged gross revenue. The JSEB Administrator shall promulgate rules and guidelines regarding such program without further Council approval. (Ord. 2021-117-E , § 5; Ord. 2023-765-E , § 1; Ord. 2025-411-E , § 2)