State of Connecticut - Department of Administrative
Services
Contractor Pre-qualification Program
The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Contractor Pre-qualification Program (Public Act 03-215) requires that all contractors pre-qualify “before they can bid on any construction, alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition of any public building, and for work by the state or a municipality estimated to cost more than $500,000 which is funded in whole or in part with state funds.” This act only applies to the general contractor; subcontractors hired by the general contractor need not pre-qualify.
This act affects changes to the rules regarding advertising for proposals. It also prohibits certain communications between the contracting entity and proposers, and imposes new requirements for contractor evaluations and status reports to be sent to the governor.
DAS will provide the contractor with both a pre-qualification classification and an aggregate work capacity (AWC) rating.
A pre-qualification classification specifies the type of work a contractor is qualified to perform. An AWC rating specifies the maximum amount of work a contractor is capable of undertaking in a one-year period.
Any person may apply for pre-qualification to DAS. This application (see link below) must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee, which is based on the contractor’s AWC rating. The application must be signed under penalty of false statement.
Once issued, the initial pre-qualification certificate will be effective for one year from the date of issue, and it will indicate the contractor’s pre-qualification classification and AWC rating.
For additional information regarding the DAS Pre-qualification
Program,
log onto
http://www.das.state.ct.us/Business_Svs/PreQual/Prequal.asp
State of Connecticut - Department of Administrative
Services
Minority & Small Business Set-Aside Program
Agency-administered projects valued up to $500,000 shall be offered only to contractors that are registered with the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Minority & Small Business Set-Aside Program.
A small business enterprise (SBE) is defined as any company whose principal place of business has been in Connecticut for at least one year. The business must have grossed less than $10 million in the last fiscal year. Fifty-one percent of the business ownership must be held by someone who exercises operational authority over daily business affairs, has the power to direct management and policies, and receives the beneficial interests of the business.
A minority-owned business enterprise (MBE) is defined as any company meeting the definition of a small business, with 51 percent of the ownership held by a member of a minority group (defined as black, Hispanic, Asian, people with origins in the Iberian Peninsula, American Indians, women or the disabled) who exercises the operational authority over daily business affairs, has the power to direct management and policies, and receives the beneficial interests of the business.
To register, contact Business CONNections of DAS at (860) 713-5236. Business CONNections is a liaison and advocate for small and minority-owned vendors seeking to secure state contracts. The program was established to ensure that at least 25 percent of the state’s business is transacted with small businesses, and that at least 25 percent of that goes to those owned by minorities, women and the disabled.
To find out more about this program, log onto www.das.state.ct.us/busopp.asp.
