By Jacquinette D. Murphy
NDG Contributing Writer
The DeSoto Independent School District is known to cast a wide net in regards to securing the “best value” for goods and services for its District. In November 2010, the District began exploring the benefits of implementing a more targeted policy approach to include the minority-women owned business enterprises (M/WBE).
The implementation of such a policy does not limit the district to only doing business with M/WBEs – companies with at least 51 percent ownership by a woman or minority. The policy mandates that entities simply take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of their purchasing and bidding opportunities.
Since 1997, DeSoto ISD has been considered a minority-majority entity. The district population is approximately 80 percent African-American; 12 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Anglo and 1 percent Asian/Pacific Islander/Native American.
Following the death of Sharon Sternes, five African Americans (Don Grant, Kenzie Moore, Sandra Wheeler, Van Stripling and Warren Seay Jr.) and one Anglo American (Dee Trimble) currently sit on DeSoto ISD’s Board of Trustees.
The district’s superintendent, Lloyd Treadwell, is Anglo American and has announced his retirement effective June 2011. The Dallas Morning News is reporting Dallas Independent School District Trustee Lew Blackburn has completed a second interview and is expected to be announced as the “lone finalist” on Thursday.
One constant factor is that the district maintained its focus on securing the best product and price for the allotted budget without regard for utilization status.
“Our practice in the past has been to secure the ‘best value’ for the district in all purchasing considerations, realizing that buying from M/WBEs and/or local vendors is certainly a piece of that ‘best value’ consideration; consequently, purchasing decisions involve looking at price, service, M/WBE status (of vendors from whom we have information), location of the vendor’s place of business, and various other considerations actually dictated by purchasing law,” said Rod Smith, director of purchasing for DeSoto ISD.
Question of the level of business that is done with the M/WBE organizations arose about the number of dollars “set aside” for traditionally under-utilized businesses because the data captured in the vendor database does not currently record or request the certification status of its bidders.
If district is in compliance with the state purchasing mandate is not the real question to be answered. The Board of Trustees is actively exploring its practices to determine if the implementation of an M/WBE policy is truly right for this district due to its current purchasing practices.
The Texas Association for School Boards policy for purchasing and vendor acquisition (CH LOCAL) does not mandate the inclusion of a M/WBE policy. According to the TASB policy, “All district contracts, except contracts for the purchase of produce or vehicle fuel, valued at $50,000 or M/WBE in the aggregate for each 12-month period shall be M/WBE by the method that provides the best value for the district.”
The methods by which the contracts are proposed and secured include competitive bidding, competitive sealed proposals, a request for proposal (RFP) for services other than construction services and an inter-local contract (multi-district purchases that would bring the pricing to a benefit rate.)
Smith said the district currently uses multiple purchasing vendors and cooperative outlets in an effort to effectively utilize its spending budget.
“As a publicly held organization, we owe our taxpayers to acquire the best products at the best prices. Our purchasing department uses all the tools at its disposal to include all vendors and entities interested in bidding on district needs. DeSoto ISD does a very high percentage of its purchasing through purchasing cooperatives; M/WBE status information may or may not be available from these cooperatives. We’ll obviously be researching and answering these questions as we develop and implement an M/WBE policy. At the same time, DeSoto ISD works to utilize local vendors when possible as well.”
Specifically, the district is a part of about nine purchasing cooperative organizations including Region 18 Purchasing Cooperative, TASB Buyboard, U.S. Communities and U.S. General Services Administration (two nationwide purchasing cooperatives), and the Educational Purchasing Cooperative of North Texas. This gives the district instant access to thousands of vendors. Additionally, the district still locally advertise its bids and RFPs as it is required under the state law.
“DeSoto ISD advertises all local bids in the Daily Commercial Record, generally accepted as the leading legal publication/newspaper for Dallas County. For those local bids that specifically target local vendors, we also advertise in the DeSoto Focus and/or other local newspapers,” said Beth Trimble, DeSoto ISD director of communications.
In an effort to answer the question whether an M/WBE policy should exist, the board and purchasing department are seeking to gather data on its current renewing vendors.
“The district has been very excited to develop an M/WBE policy and thus hired a consultant that has worked with other area districts to assure the best policy can be put into place for the benefit of the district,” Trimble said.
Asked if there were any known issues regarding the change in method, Trimble said she does not anticipate an internal or external resistance to the development of a target policy.
“We primarily hope to expand our purchasing efficiency and effectiveness by increasing the number of vendors available.”
The most current efforts to preclude the interest or need for such a policy proved a positive interest from area firms and vendors that attended the pre-bid conferences held during the development of the High School Academy Phase II bond project proposal.
“We had an overwhelming response to two pre-bid information meetings specifically aimed at informing local and area M/WBE vendors which included contact with various construction associations. More than 180 individuals attended those two sessions to learn about the scope of work, M/WBE goals and even gain access to assistance for certification,” Trimble said.
She said for the M/WBE construction project, DeSoto ISD has set forth a utilization goal of 25 percent M/WBE for the construction process. The District has also committed to M/WBE firms to obtain contracts for 41 percent of the guaranteed maximum price, totaling more than $8.2 million.
While the district is taking small steps to evaluate the need for an M/WBE policy, Trimble said it may take at least a year before the district knows if an adjustment needs to be made.
“As a minority-majority district, we want to make a concerted effort to acquire bids and RFPs from all available vendors. Implementing goal participation from M/WBE companies and receiving competitive bids from all vendors can only benefit DeSoto ISD.”
