Official portal of the Government of Puerto Rico 
This page contains information regarding the PRDOH policy and tools available to fulfill Minority and Women Business Enterprise Participation in federal contracting opportunities with CDBG-DR funding. All PRDOH contractors, Program Partners and general public are invited to check out the features below and reach out to our office with any inquiry regarding the tools available to mwbeCDBG@vivienda.pr.gov.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
These questions and answers focus on the requirements of MWBE. As a recipient of HUD financial assistance, the Uniform Administrative Requirements at 2 CFR 200.321 require PRDOH to ensure that, when possible, contracts and other economic opportunities funded in whole or in part with federal housing and community development assistance are directed to: Minority Business Enterprises (MBE); and Women Business Enterprises (WBE).
MBE is defined as a business which is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled on a daily basis by one or more (in combination) American citizens of the following ethnic minority and/or gender (e.g. woman-owned) and/or military veteran classifications:
• African American
• Asian American
• Hispanic American
• Native American
• Hasidic Jew
• Persons with disabilities
• other individuals who can prove social and economic disadvantage
A WBE is a business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women. Must be U.S. citizens or Legal Resident Aliens; whose business formation and principal place of business are in the U.S. or its territories; and whose management and daily operation is controlled by women.
1. The owner is required to have operated the business for at least a full year (365 days) either calendar or fiscal.
2. The owner is required to have filed a federal business tax return consisting of a full year (365 days) either calendar or fiscal.
3. The business must have been continuously operating for at least one year (365 days).
4. The owner is required to have filed federal business and personal tax returns for the most recently completed tax year.
M/WBE requirements apply to all procurement contracts of $10,000 or more.
M/WBE applies to professional services and construction work.
The participation requirement is based on the total amount of each individual prime contract awarded by PRDOH.
The M/WBE participation requirement is 20%:
• 10% for MBE
• 10% for WBE
These requirements may be met either through the initial contract award (if the prime is an M/WBE) or the requirement may be met through subcontracts specified within the prime bidder’s proposal or bid.
This planning tool will assist all contractors throughout the project lifecycle provide information about how they will be providing contracting opportunities to MWBE businesses on applicable contracts.
The form collects information on those subcontracts and information about those businesses. Recipients and Contractors should complete this form to identify where contracting opportunities will exist for MWBE businesses. The Utilization Plan format is available online at https://recuperacion.pr.gov/en/section-3/enterprise-woman-minority-mwbe/utilization-plan/
Certified Minority or Women Owned Businesses can be those who have filed Applications with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP).
Applications can be obtained from EPA OSBP, from regional Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Coordinators, and from EPA OSBP’s website, www.epa.gov/osbp.
Subrecipients, Contractors and Subcontractors must diligently review that the certification provided by each Company is updated prior to the award of the contract or purchase, intended to comply with the federal regulation of Minority or Women owned Business Enterprise.
- The Puerto Rican Minority Supplier Development Council has a digital catalog at https://www.prmsdc.org/advertising/html/men146/index.html
- Puerto Rico SBA office for a listing of minority businesses:
Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands District Office 273 Ponce de León Ave., Suite 510 San Juan, PR 00917 Phone: 787-766-5572 - SBA link for contacts and information: https://dsbs.sba.gov/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm
Subrecipients and Contractors will be required to complete quarterly reporting. Reports are due the fifth (5th) of each month following the quarter mark. The following image depicts quarter marks and report due dates:
PRDOH will provide ongoing training and collaborative workshops to ensure Subrecipients and Contractors are aware of where and how to provide information on PRDOH’s reporting platform.
MWBE Utilization Plan:
This document template allows contractors or recipients to identify how they plan on being in compliance with MWBE contracting goals
MWBE Waiver Form:
These document templates help recipients or contractors identify if they meet the requirements to waive their goal for participation for MWBE.
Documentation of Efforts Form:
This document template allows contractors or recipients to identify how they are performing efforts to be in compliance with Section 3 efforts.
Quarterly Reporting Template:
This reporting form allows contractors and recipients to report on data that PRDOH will be required to report annually.
