Diversity in Procurement

The City of Cedar Hill retains its distinctive character due to the diversity of its citizens. As such, the City encourages diversity in the procurement process by seeking local, small, minority-owned, women-owned, disadvantage business enterprises and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB). As required by Texas Local Government Code, the City seeks the participation of at least two certified HUB vendors for all purchases over $3,000.

On June 12, 2018, the City Council authorized the Mayor to sign an Interlocal agreement with the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRCA). This agreement allows the City to expand its small and minority business outreach by expanding the certification categories and certifying agencies accepted in procurement efforts.

Membership to NCTRCA is open to any governmental entity in the North Central Texas Council of Governments Region however only 19 entities are members of this elite group. Cedar Hill is one of only two municipalities with a population of less than 50,000 citizens with membership in this organization. The City's partnership with NCTRCA will afford the City immediate access and outreach to an additional 3,700 certified DBE/MBE/WBE vendors via NCTRCA's database. Furthermore, through NCTRCA's Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP), the City of Cedar Hill is able to accept Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certification from six additional partnering certifying agencies.

With the execution of the NCTRCA agreement, the City of Cedar Hill expanded its listing of certifying agencies and now currently accepts certification from the following agencies:

• State of Texas – Historically Underutilized Business Program
• North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRCA)
• South Central Texas Regional Certification (SCTRCA)
• City of Austin
• City of Houston
• Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority
• Texas Department of Transportation
• Any other certifying agency deemed acceptable by the City of Cedar Hill

Companies interested in doing business with the City are encouraged to become certified with any of the partnering agencies listed above.

Vendors do not have to be certified to participate in the procurement process for (BIDs, RFQs, IFBs or RFP's) or any other purchasing opportunity. However, to be considered a certified, M/W/S/DBE or HUB vendor, the vendor must provide proof of certification from the partnering agency listed above.