The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s (UTHealth Houston) Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) and Small Business Program is fully committed to the Good Faith Effort to enhance the opportunity of VetHUBs and Small Businesses participating in the State and Federal marketplace. UTHealth Houston's VetHUB and Small Business Program was established to identify, educate and assist VetHUBs and Small Businesses in participating in the purchasing process thereby increasing the number and value of contracts and purchases awarded to Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB).
Supporting VetHUBs and Small Businesses is the responsibility of everyone with the authority to obligate funds at UTHealth Houston. Please remember to use VetHUBs and Small Businesses in your day-to-day purchasing decisions. Working together, we can be successful in our efforts to be good community partners. Thank you for your cooperation and recognition of this important effort.
UTHealth Houston VetHUB Subcontracting Plan Checklist
Determination of Good Faith Efforts when subcontracting:
- Divide the contract work into reasonable lots or portions to the extent consistent with prudent industry practices.
- Give notification in writing to all potential bidders- Notification Form is included in the HSP package. Use of this form is highly recommended.
- You must allow the VetHUBs at least seven (7) working days to respond to the notice prior to your submitting you response to the contracting agency. (Does not include the day notice was sent)
- Notify a minimum of two trade organizations or development centers of subcontracting opportunities (see list attached to Rider 104 HUB Plan for contact information). Complete Section B-3 (d) of Option 3 Attachment B.
- Give notification to at least 3 VetHUBs for each trade/scope identified for the project.
- Provide written justification of the selection process if a VetHUB is not selected. Complete Section B-4 (b) of Option 3 Attachment B.
- Encourage participation non-certified Veteran Heroes United in Business owned businesses to apply for State certification.
- Provide supporting documentation of all good faith efforts. Failure to produce required documentation may result in rejection of your HUB Plan and subsequently your proposal.
- This contract is anticipated to exceed $100,000 and it has been determined that VetHUB subcontracting opportunities exist.
- All bidders must submit a HUB Subcontracting Plan regardless of whether you are a certified Texas VetHUB or not.
- You may choose to subcontract or self perform. You have 4 GFE options for subcontracting / self performing. HSP Check List is on Page 6.
- If you choose to self perform, you will be required to provide a detailed Self Performance Justification as to how your company will perform the entire contract with its own equipment, supplies, materials and employees in SECTION 3 of the HUB Subcontracting Plan.
- When subcontracting, you must contact three (3) or more certified VetHUB subcontractors from the State of Texas Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) for each subcontracting opportunity. https://mycpa.cpa.state.us/tpasscmblsearch/index.jsp
- You will need to provide the subcontractors with written notification to include the scope of work, information regarding the location to review applicable plans and specifications, bonding and insurance requirements and identify a contact person. Utilize the HUB Subcontracting Opportunity Notification Form Page 21 of the HSP Documents.
- You must allow the VetHUB subcontractors no less than seven (7) working days from the receipt of their notice to respond.
- You must also list the subcontracting opportunity with (2) trade organizations or development centers no less than seven (7) working days prior to your submission of your HUB Subcontracting Plan for this bid.
- You are required to submit all supporting documentation (HUB Subcontracting Opportunity Notification Form(s), letters, emails, etc.) demonstrating evidence of good faith effort performed in contacting subcontractors and listings.
- You are required to submit on your company letterhead your Statement of Understanding pertaining to either self performance or subcontracting.
- If your HUB Subcontracting Plan does not meet the State of Texas guidelines, the associated bid proposal cannot be opened and will be returned to you unopened.
Contact Information:
Stephanie Mangham
HUB Manager
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 713-500-4862
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) vendor?
- is at least 51% Service Disabled Veteran
- is an entity with its principal place of business in Texas, and
- has an owner residing in Texas with a proportionate interest that actively participates in the control, operations and management of the entity’s affairs.
- How does my company become VetHUB certified?
- To obtain State of Texas VetHUB certification, complete and submit a VetHUB Certification Application.
- Allow 90 days for review of VetHUB certification applications.
- What are the benefits of HUB certification?
- In accordance with Texas Administrative Code §111.13, each state agency shall make a good faith effort to utilize VetHUBs in contracts for construction, services (including professional and consulting services) and commodities purchases.
- VetHUB certification is free of charge.
- Certification is valid for 4 years, provided that business continues to meet the eligibility requirements.*
- Business is registered on the Comptroller’s web-based VetHUB Directory. State agencies use the HUB Directory in conjunction with the Comptroller’s Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) to solicit bids from certified VetHUBs for state purchasing and public works contracts. Prime contractors also use the VetHUB Directory to identify VetHUBs to whom they will send notification of their subcontracting opportunities.
- Increased exposure to the general public, as well as, other entities that are searching for Veteran Heroes United In Business (VetHUB)
- Certification is valid for 4 years, provided that business continues to meet the eligibility requirements.*
- What is a Mentor Protégé program and how can I enroll?
- The State of Texas Mentor Protégé Program is designed to foster long-term relationships between prime contractors and Veteran Heroes United In Business (VetHUB). The objective of the Mentor Protégé Program is to provide professional guidance and support to the protégé (VetHUB) in order to facilitate their growth and development and increase VetHUB contracts and subcontracts with the State of Texas.
- Participation the program requires the protégé be State of Texas VetHUB certified and the Mentor Protégé Agreement be sponsored by a state agency.
- The following criteria may be considered for Mentor participation by state agencies:
- Registration with the State of Texas Centralized Master Bidders List,
- Previous mentoring experience and prior work history,
- Ability to provide developmental guidance in areas identified by the protégé, and
- "Good Standing" in doing business with the State of Texas.
- The following criteria may be considered for Protégé participation by state agencies:
- Eligibility and willingness to obtain VetHUB certification under the State of Texas VetHUB Program (Protégé must be certified as a VetHUB prior to TPASS listing the Mentor Protégé Agreement on the official list),
- Business in operation for at least one year,
- Desire to participate with a mentoring firm,
- Ability to identify the type of guidance needed for business development, and
- "Good Standing" in doing business with the State of Texas.
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To apply, the prospective mentor and protégé must complete the application and submit to Stephanie Mangham, HUB Manager.
HUB Subcontracting Frequently Asked Questions and Common Errors:
- What is a Vendor Identification (VID) Number and where can I get one?
- A VID number is issued by the Comptroller’s office to every vendor who does business with the state of Texas. Typically, the unique VID number is based on your business’s federal Employer Identification Number (EIN).
- If you have not done business with the state before and do not have a VID, please provide your EIN in areas that ask for the VID.
- If you do not have an EIN number, please contact the IRS and apply for one by telephone at (800) 829-4933 or online.
- A VID number is issued by the Comptroller’s office to every vendor who does business with the state of Texas. Typically, the unique VID number is based on your business’s federal Employer Identification Number (EIN).
- My business is certified as a Veteran Heroes United In Business (VetHUB). Must I complete the HSP (HUB Subcontracting Plan)?
- Yes. Certification as a VetHUB does not exclude VetHUBs from responding to solicitations as prime contractors and therefore does not exempt a VetHUB-certified business from completing the HSP and making a good faith effort to contact other VetHUBs to notify them of subcontracting opportunities.
- I am not subcontracting. Do I have to complete the HSP?
- Yes. All respondents must complete the HSP. If you will not be subcontracting, complete only the necessary sections, including Section Nine, which asks for a detailed explanation of how you will meet contract expectations using your own resources.
- I am a manufacturer and have several distributors that are VetHUB certified and some that are not. How do I reflect this in the HSP?
- If you do not have a Mentor/Protégé agreement with your VetHUB distributors, you must still make a good faith effort to contact three VetHUBs to notify them of subcontracting opportunities as required in Method B (attachment B), Section B-3 of the HSP. The VetHUB vendors you contact can be VetHUBs that you currently use to distribute your goods.
- List all distributors you may use in Method B (attachment B) Section B-4 of the HSP. If the list exceeds two, include an attachment in the same format that continues the list.
- For all non-VetHUB distributors, provide written justification of your selection process as requested in Section Eight.
- Affirmations provided in lieu of descriptive language in Section 3 of the HSP
- It is not sufficient to simply affirm that you will complete the contractual obligations using your own resources. You must describe how you will do this using your own equipment, supplies, materials and/or employees.
- It is not sufficient to simply affirm that you will complete the contractual obligations using your own resources. You must describe how you will do this using your own equipment, supplies, materials and/or employees.
- Failure to make good faith effort
- You must contact at least three VetHUBs per subcontracting opportunity that you identify in your HSP. You are required to document that VetHUB vendors were contacted and submit the supporting documentation with your HSP. This documentation can include phone logs, e-mails, faxes, etc.