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GOOD FAITH EFFORTS MATERIALS TO BE INCLUDED WITH BID <br />If a contractor's bid does not meet the goal set for the contract, the contractor must submit evidence of good <br />faith efforts with its bid so the City can determine whether the contractor is a responsive bidder. If the contractor's <br />bid meets the MWBE goal , evidence of good faith effort is not required , but it would be prudent to include some <br />evidence in case an error was made . <br />The information required of a contractor who has not achieved the contract goal to show good faith efforts can be <br />found in the South Bend Inclusion Program Plan at Section 8.B.3.d . as follows: <br />(b) Where the bidder cannot achieve the contract goal , the bidder must provide proof of having made <br />good faith efforts to meet the goal. In making this determination of whether to issue a goal waiver, the City will <br />consider , at a minimum, the bidder's efforts to : <br />(1) Solicit through all reasonable and available means (e .g ., attendance at pre-bid meetings , <br />advertising and written notices) the interest of all MWBEs in the scopes of work of the contract. <br />The contractor shall provide interested MWBEs with timely , adequate information about the plans , <br />specifications , and requirements of the contract to allow such firms to respond to the solicitation . <br />The bidder must follow up initial solicitations with interested MWBEs. <br />(2) Select portions of the work to be performed by MWBEs in order to increase the likelihood that <br />the contract goal will be achieved . This includes , where appropriate, breaking out contract wo rk <br />items into economically feasible units to facilitate participation, even when the bidder would <br />otherwise prefer to perform these work items with its own forces . It is the bidder's responsibility to <br />make a portion of the work available to MWBEs and to select those port ions of the work or <br />material needs consistent with the availability of such firms to facilitate their participation . <br />(3) Negotiate in good faith with interested MWBEs . Evidence of such negotiation includes the <br />names, addresses , and telephone numbers of firms that were contacted ; a description of the <br />information provided regarding the plans and specifications for the work selected for <br />subcontracting ; and why agreements could not be reached . The bidder may not reject MWBEs as <br />being unqualified without sound reasons based on a thorough investigation of their capabilities . <br />That there may be some additional costs involved in finding and using MWBEs is not in itself <br />sufficient reason for a bidder's failure to meet the contract goal, as long as such costs are <br />reasonable. The ability or desire of a bidder to perform the work of a Contract with its own <br />organization does not relieve it of the responsibility to make good faith efforts on all scopes of <br />work within which subcontracting opportunities are available . <br />(4) Make efforts to assist interested MWBEs in obtaining bonding , lines of credit , or insurance as <br />required by the City or the bidder , where appropriate. <br />(5) Make efforts to assist interested MWBEs in obtaining necessary equipment , supplies , <br />materials , or related assistance or services , where appropriate . <br />Materials that should be submitted to support a contractor's good faith efforts include: <br />• Copies of advertisements , notices, or solicitations from contractor to MWBE 's--to include date and <br />time of issuance ; <br />• A list of all locations where advertisements or notices to MWBE's were placed or solicitations sent; <br />• Copies of communication between contractor and MWBE 's in response to contractor's <br />advertisements, notices , or solicitations ; <br />• Proof of contractor's break-out of contract items into units feasible for performance by WMBE 's; <br />• Proof of communications between the contractor and MWBE regarding negotiations for <br />agreements , and why agreement could not be reached , as stated more specifically in above <br />Subsection (b) (3); <br />• Proof of bids or quotes from MWBE 's and those from non MWBE 's when non MWBE's bid or quote <br />is used; <br />• Proof of efforts made by contractor to assist MWBE to participate in contract, where appropriate; <br />and <br />Version 1/3/2025 Page -14 Public Works Quote