Goal-setting committee amends HVAC maintenance MWBE goal to 40% by expanding vendor rotation

The Shelby County MWBE Goal Setting Committee voted to revise the MWBE goal for a previously approved HVAC routine maintenance contract, lowering the target from 50% to 40% by expanding the vendor rotation from four to five firms.

Chair Shep Wilbon explained that the earlier 50% goal had been set by a prior committee but staff and public works found 50% “a little steep” for practical contracting. After consulting support services, staff proposed increasing the rotation to five vendors so the goal would be met by designating two of the five rotation slots as MWBE. Wilbon said Attorney Ingram advised the committee to revoke and re-approve the amended goal to confirm authority for the change.

Director Cliff Norville moved to approve the amendment and Administrator James Gloucester seconded the motion. Commissioner Avant questioned whether the five vendors had already been selected; staff responded that the vendor list remains the same as when the rotation was four and that the five vendors have not yet been selected because the RFP has not been released. As Wilbon summarized, "the recommended goal will now be 40% that will be accomplished by having 2 of the 5 vendors on the rotation list be MWBE." The committee recorded affirmative votes and the motion carried.

The approved change will apply to the HVAC routine maintenance and repair rotation for county buildings referenced by the committee. Staff said they will provide the eventual list of five vendors once the RFP process identifies the rotation slots. No additional funding amounts or contract award dates were specified during the discussion.