Local Business Enterprise Program
Our Local Business Enterprise Program (LBE) provides small regional construction firms located in the water service territory (Daly City to Hetch Hetchy) eligibility to be certified by the General Services Agency’s Contract Monitoring Division for construction contracting opportunities on SFPUC specified construction projects, as San Francisco based firms.
Established small/micro public works/construction, construction material suppliers, construction equipment rental, trucking, architect/engineering, and professional services firms located in the water service territory (defined by zip codes) are encouraged to apply for the certification program. The following are benefits of the program:
- When bidding as a subcontractor, certified LBEs shall be eligible to meet the subcontracting goal requirements on SFPUC Regional WSIP construction projects located outside of San Francisco County.
- When bidding as a prime, certified LBEs shall be eligible for a 10% bid discount on SFPUC Regional construction projects located outside of San Francisco County.
Small/micro construction, architect/engineering and professional services firms from the regional water service area are eligible to bid on San Francisco construction projects; however, these firms are non-eligible to meet subcontractor goal credit and will not receive the 10% bid discount.
What are the SFPUC-LBE Certification Program requirements?
Under San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 14B, Section B (5), the SFPUC-LBE Certification Program requires established small public works/construction firms, as well as architect/engineering and professional services firms. (architectural/engineering and professional services only), as defined in 2) above to meet the requirements of Chapter 14B. Section 3 (B) or (C).
Average annual gross receipts and location of the business applying for certification are the key measurements used to determine eligibility. See more information on Chapter 14B.
What are the economic thresholds?
Small/micro construction and professional services firms are required to show average annual gross receipts from prior (3) years. Please note the average annual receipts for the last three (3) years cannot exceed the following limits:
| Work | Micro Bid Discount: 10% | Small Bid Discount: 10% |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works/Construction Contractors (Class A & B license) | $10 million | $20 million |
| Specialty Construction Contractors | $5 million | $10 million |
| Trucking and Hauling | $1.75 million | $3.5 million |
| Goods, Materials and Equipment Suppliers | $5 million | $10 million |
| General Service Providers | $5 million | $10 million |
| Architect/Engineering | $1.25 million | $2.5 million |
| Professional Services | $1.25 million | $2.5 million |
Is there an Oversight Committee assisting the SFPUC with its contracting efforts in the regional water service area?
The five-member Small Firm Advisory Committee is representative of the SFPUC’s seven counties water system and provides public meeting opportunities to meet with small/micro construction firms and residents of Suburban water customer jurisdictions to discuss actions of the committee that affect those communities.
What happens during the certification process?
Application processing ranges from 14 to 30 business days during which Contract Monitoring Division staff will review the application and documents submitted, and request any additional items needed to complete the file. SFPUC staff will conduct a site visit of the premises and interview employees and/or the owner(s) at the site. Certification Applications should be submitted to:
General Services Agency
Contract Monitoring Division, Attn: Certification Unit
1155 Market Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 581-2310
Email: LBEcert@sfgov.org