Small Business Development

Business Opportunity Services Division

This division is responsible for administering small business programs to increase the participation of small and micro businesses in County contracts. It reviews proposed County purchases and contracts for commodities, professional services and construction projects to apply contract measures.

This division is also responsible for administering the Community Workforce Program (CWP) Ordinance 03-1 through Administrative Order 3-37, which requires the utilization of labor force, from Designated Target Areas (DTAs) on capital construction contracts/projects of 1 million dollars or more and applicable work orders, awarded by Miami Dade County, its departments and agencies, Public Health Trust, or funded in whole or in part by County funds or with private funds on County property.  All capital construction projects are reviewed for applicability of workforce goals.  Awarded contractors/subcontractors are required to meet this goal.

This division is also responsible for management and technical assistance, bonding support to certified small businesses, as well as other financial support programs. 

The administration of the Anti-Discrimination Program and the Debarment Ordinance are also managed by this division.  The Anti-Discrimination Program serves to eliminate and prevent discrimination activities pertaining to contracting, procurement, bonding and financial services, while the Debarment Ordinance ensures that the County does not contract with firms that have a history of poor performance on County contracts or when they have, by commission of crimes or rendition of civil judgments, shown lack of honesty and integrity.  The debarment process includes assessing debarment requests from the County departments to determine merit, recommendations to the County Mayor as to the appointment of debarment committees, staff support to these committees, and assisting the County Attorney’s Office in presenting the County’s case at debarment hearings.

This division is responsible for the administration of the County’s Business Enterprise Certification programs.  This the starting point for participation in Miami-Dade County’s Business Enterprise Certification programs.