• I am a supplier/contractor. Am I required to comply with Affirmative Action (AA) requirements?   
  
  On April 6, 2011, the Phoenix City Council amended Chapter 18 of the Phoenix City Code, Articles I, IV, and V, to eliminate affirmative action (AA) references in city procurement and construction contracting. Changes to the City Code were prompted by the passage of Proposition 107 in the November 2010 state election. The state law prohibits AA programs that give preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, education or contracting.    
  
  Effective May 6, 2011, the city of Phoenix online Affirmative Action (AA) database, the City’s registry of suppliers and contractors eligible to conduct business with Phoenix under previous AA requirements, was discontinued. Contractors and suppliers wishing to do business with the city of Phoenix are no longer required to file forms with the city showing they implement employment programs directed at increasing minority and female representation in the work force.
  
  Exception:  Federally-funded Programs
  
  Federally-funded programs may still require compliance with affirmative action efforts.  In the event the federal government is requiring reporting, outreach, or affirmative action goals to establish or maintain eligibility for federal programs, and failure to adhere to these requirements would result in a loss of federal monies to the City, the federal requirements shall prevail.  
  
  
• I am a small business owner. How can I do business with the city of Phoenix?
  
  The Equal Opportunity Department administers a program to certify small businesses. The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Certification Program ensures that small business owners in the community have an equal economic opportunity to obtain city business. The city's SBE Certification Program is designed to help small businesses interested in providing goods and services as well as construction services to the city. Business owners of any ethnic or racial background, male or female, may apply for SBE certification.  Only firms located in Maricopa County are eligible for the city's SBE Certification Program.
  
  Criteria for certification include:
• All business owners have personal net worth below $1.32 million
  
• The firm is operational and is a for-profit concern that has completed four business contracts 
  
• The business owner controls the day-to-day operation of the business and has a background in the firm's major business field
  
• The firm operates independently of any other non-qualifying firm
  
• The firm is a small business as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration
  
  Applications for certification are available online at phoenix.diversitycompliance.com.
  
  

• I am a disadvantaged (socially and economically) minority/woman business owner. How can I do business with the city of Phoenix?
  
  The Equal Opportunity Department administers a program to certify disadvantaged minority- and woman-owned firms for business opportunities on federally funded projects. Firms certified by the program are eligible to conduct business with the city of Phoenix. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification Program ensures that disadvantaged (socially and economically) businesses in the community have an equal economic opportunity to obtain city business. Criteria for certification include:
  
  All business owners have personal net worth below $1.32 million
  

To become certified, submit the application for DBE certification available online at phoenix.diversitycompliance.com.

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