The department is authorized and empowered to:
(1) Provide technical and managerial assistance to small business concerns, by advising and counseling on matters in connection with state procurement policies, practices of good management, including, but not limited to, cost accounting, methods of financing, business insurance, accident control, wage incentives, methods engineering and legal questions, by cooperating and advising with voluntary business, professional, educational and other organizations, associations and institutions and with federal and state agencies, by maintaining a clearinghouse for information concerning the managing, financing, and operation of small business enterprises, by disseminating such information and by such other activities as are deemed appropriate;
(2) Make a complete inventory of all productive facilities of small business concerns in the state;
(3) Coordinate and ascertain the means by which the productive capacity of small business concerns can be most effectively utilized;
(4) Obtain information as to the methods and practices of prime contractors in letting subcontracts and take action to encourage the letting of subcontracts by prime contractors to small business concerns at prices and on conditions and terms which are fair and equitable;
(5) Determine the concerns, firms, persons, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, or other business enterprises which are to be designated small business concerns for the purposes of effectuating the provisions of this chapter; and to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the office shall designate individual concerns as small business concerns in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any such designation shall be subject to revocation when the concern covered thereby ceases to be a small business;
(6) Obtain from any state department or agency engaged in procurement or in the financing of procurement such reports and information concerning the letting of contracts and subcontracts, purchases or procurement of articles, commodities, materials, supplies, or services as it may deem pertinent in carrying out its functions under this chapter;
(7) Make studies, conduct workshops and seminars, and make recommendations to state agencies or the Legislature to insure that a fair proportion of the total purchases and contracts for articles, commodities, supplies, and services for the state is placed with small business enterprises;
(8) Promote the mobilization of activities and resources of state and local governments, businesses and trade associations, universities, foundations, professional organizations and volunteer and other groups toward the growth of small business enterprises and facilitate the coordination of the efforts of these groups with those of federal departments and agencies; and
(9) Promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to administer and effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
Last modified: May 3, 2021