DeKalb County procurement staff told a packed business-summit session that primes responding to solicitations of $100,000 or more must include at least 20% participation by certified Local Small Business Enterprises, or document a good-faith effort to reach that goal.

The procurement presentation explained how becoming LSBE-certified places a company on the county list that primes are required to search when assembling bids for qualifying contracts. Procurement staff said they review ‘good faith effort’ reports when primes claim they cannot meet the 20% benchmark.

The presenters encouraged LSBEs to use the county’s online LSBE directory and said staff will supply electronic lists on request. They noted partnerships with the county’s First Source Jobs ordinance and WorkSource to help match labor and staffing firms with prime contractors. Procurement staff also said they are evaluating software to move the LSBE certification and matching process away from a manual workflow.

Separately, the county announced a free DeKalb Supplier Academy this October (five Thursdays) to expand the supplier pool for county procurement. Organizers said a May pilot produced nine graduates who entered the county supplier pipeline. The outreach team will publish a flyer and include registration information in the county newsletter and text alerts.

Procurement staff said primes should not assert they cannot find LSBEs: “We certify them,” a procurement presenter said, adding that staffing firms can supply personnel for prime contractors. Increased micro-trainings and e-procurement guidance were advertised for both end users and suppliers so firms do not miss offers because of procedural errors.

The session closed with staff offering to work one-on-one with firms on certification, SAM.gov registration and correct NIGP code classification to improve visibility to county buyers.