Business Enterprise Council

The Business Enterprise Council (BEP Council) was developed to help implement, monitor, and enforce the goals of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act (BEP Act). The BEP Council meets bi-monthly.

The Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI) Chairperson serves as the BEP Council Chairperson and selects, subject to the approval of the BEP Council, the BEP Council Secretary, who is responsible for the Business Enterprise Program's (BEP) operation. In addition to the BEP Council Chairperson, the BEP Council consists of the following individuals:

• The Secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS) or their designee
• The Director of the Department of Human Rights (DHR) or their designee
• The Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) or their designee
• The Director of the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) or their designee
• The Director of the Department of Transportation (DOT) or their designee
• The Director of the Capital Development Board (CDB) or their designee
• Ten individuals representing minority-owned (MBE), women-owned (WBE), or persons with disabilities-owned (PBE) businesses
• Two individuals representing the business community
• A representative of public institutions of higher education (PIHE)
• The Comptroller, or their designee, as an advisory member

The Governor appoints individuals representing MBEs, WBEs, PBEs, the business community, and the representative for the public institutions of higher education.

BEP Council members serve a two-year term and are eligible for reappointment.

Click here to see the list of the current BEP Council members.

Some of the BEP Council's responsibilities are to:

1. Implement, monitor, and enforce the goals of the BEP Act. 
2.  Approve (or deny) the Chairperson’s BEP Council Secretary selection.  
3. Review, approve, or reject agency and PIHE compliance plans.
4. Hold regular meetings to fulfill its responsibilities under the BEP Act. 
5. Set aside time during regular meetings to review and discuss evidence of past or present discrimination that affects State contracting with MBEs, WBEs, and PBEs.
6. Approve any recommended rules and regulations for establishing and continuing narrowly tailored sheltered markets before the rules are submitted to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.  
7. Report any applicable vendor that fails to submit a supplier diversity report to the Chief Procurement Officers. 

The BEP Council delegated the following responsibilities to BEP: 

1. Develop and implement a certification procedure and system, including the FastTrack and Recognition certification processes. 
2. Review certification applications to ensure applicants are eligible. 
3. Maintain a list of certified BEP vendors available to the public. 
4. Review rules and regulations and make recommendations for the BEP Council. 
5. Review utilization plans, solicitation goal setting, pre-award, and individual contract waiver and exemption requests. 
6. Conduct outreach to current and prospective BEP vendors. 

Until the BEP Council votes to return such delegated responsibilities to the BEP Council, BEP shall be independently responsible for performing all its duties and responsibilities.