An engineering firm that worked on The Pyramid, an office supply company and a masonry contractor have something in common.

They all made business contacts and got a chance to showcase their work through a program of the Equal Opportunity Compliance office. The program gives small, economically-disadvantaged businesses a share of the money that Shelby County government spends on goods and services.

Shelby County is one of only a handful of local governments in the country with an Equal Opportunity Compliance office. The EOC, whose administrator is appointed by the board of commissioners, ensures fair employment practices within county government. Established in 1976, the office investigates an average of 50 to 60 complaints of discrimination a year, primarily on the basis of race and sex. The employment statistics of companies that bid on county projects are reviewed to ensure they meet standards of eligibility established by the County Commission.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

1. The Board of County Commissioners and the County Mayor shall take all actions necessary to assure the continued implementation of all rules, regulations and guidelines promulgated by the Equal Opportunity Commission, The Department of Labor, or other such competent authority that are applicable to insuring fair employment practices. The Administrator of the appropriate office of the Board of County Commissioners designated to carry out this function shall be elected by the Board of Commissioners pursuant to section 2.03(D) and (E) and shall be subject to termination by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners.
2. The duties of this administrator shall include all those established by resolution and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Review and implementation of fair employment practices, as specified by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines, in all departments of County Government;
2. Update and monitor an effective affirmative action program;
3. Investigate claims and complaints of discriminatory practices arising in County Government departments;
4. Design, implement and monitor programs to increase minority business participation in the letting of County contracts;
5. Review all proposed contracts in which County funds are expended to insure that non-discriminatory employment practices are being executed on all levels of employment as specified by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Labor Department regulations;
6. The administrator shall have the power to require each firm or business contracting with the County to submit with their proposals and/or bid statistics revealing the percentage and number of minorities at all levels of said firm or business;
7. Such other duties as may be required by the Board of County Commissioners.

SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMPLIANCE
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS

Consistent with Article V, Section 5.13 B (5) and (6) of the Home Rule Charter and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners Resolution 12, adopted May 9, 1983 as amended by Resolution 17, adopted October 20, 1986 of Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance has developed a Contract Compliance Program for Shelby County Government.

You are advised that the following procedures have been instituted in order to fulfill these responsibilities.

1. All firms, regardless of number of employees must PRE-Qualify for an EOC Contract Compliance Eligibility Number PRIOR to submission of a bid for a contract.
2. TO RECEIVE AN EOC CONTRACT COMPLIANCE ELIGIBILITY NUMBER. THE FOLLOWING STEPS MUST BE TAKEN AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR TO BID OPENING. IN THE EVENT THAT A BID OPENING IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY OR THE DAY FOLLOWING A HOLIDAY, ALL MATERIALS MUST BE RETURNED TO THIS OFFICE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE LAST WORKING DAY.

1. Secure a Contract Compliance Packet from EOC in Room 969, 160 North Main. For information and assistance in these procedures, contact the Contract Compliance Officer.
2. Return requested information to EOC by the time specified in Item B above, for review of compliance with standards of Resolution 17.
3. Secure a Contract Compliance Certification Number.
4. Mark your firm's Eligibility Certification Number on each bid envelope submitted.

For VENDORS, unless stipulated on the Contract Eligibility Report, certification numbers are valid for a period of TWELVE MONTHS after which a review will be necessary. THE FIRST THREE/FOUR DIGITS OF ELIGIBILITY NUMBER INDICATE THE MONTH AND YEAR OF EXPIRATION.

For CONSTRUCTION projects estimated to be BELOW two hundred and fifty thousand ($250,000), a Contract Compliance Number is valid for a period of SIX MONTHS. For construction projects estimated to be two hundred and fifty thousand ($250,000) and ABOVE, a Contract Compliance Certification Number must be obtained for each bid submitted.

Please feel free to call our office at (901) 545-4336 for any assistance you may need as we implement this phase of Shelby County Government's Equal Opportunity Compliance Program.