Green Bay City Contracting Affirmative Action Rules
Green Bay, Wisconsin requires contractors doing business with the city to follow nondiscrimination and affirmative action expectations in procurement and contracting. This guide summarizes the city departments responsible, where to find contracting rules and vendor requirements, how compliance is monitored, and practical steps for small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses to participate in city procurement. For contracting procedures and bid documents, consult the City Purchasing Division page City of Green Bay Purchasing Division[1]. For ordinance text and any codified procurement rules, consult the Green Bay municipal code Green Bay Code of Ordinances[2].
Scope and Who Must Comply
City contracting affirmative action expectations apply to bidders and contractors on city-funded contracts, construction, goods and services procurements, and subcontracts when specified in solicitation documents. The Purchasing Division is the primary office for contract administration; specific contract language or project solicitations set the applicability for affirmative action or vendor diversity requirements.
Key Requirements and Typical Contract Clauses
Typical affirmative action or equal opportunity clauses used in municipal contracts may require nondiscrimination in employment, outreach to diverse suppliers, and submission of vendor diversity or workforce reports when requested by the city. The exact clauses and any required certifications are included in individual bid documents and contract templates posted by Purchasing. If a public works project uses state or federal funding, supplementary state or federal equal opportunity rules may also apply; the cited city pages do not always reproduce those external program rules.
Penalties & Enforcement
The city enforces contracting requirements through the Purchasing Division and may use contract remedies for noncompliance. Specific monetary fines and penalties are often contract-dependent or provided by ordinance; if those amounts are not published on the controlling city page, this guide notes that the amount is "not specified on the cited page" and points to the enforcing office for clarification.
- Fines or monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page; amounts depend on contract terms or separate ordinance.[2]
- Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing offence procedures are not specified on the cited page and generally follow contract breach remedies or ordinance provisions.[2]
- Non-monetary sanctions: contract termination, withholding payments, required corrective action plans, debarment or suspension from future city contracts; specific processes are determined by Purchasing and contract language.[1]
- Enforcer and complaints: Purchasing Division handles contract compliance and complaints; contractors should use the official contact on the Purchasing page to report concerns or request reviews.[1]
- Appeals and review: protest or appeal routes for bid or contract decisions are defined in Purchasing rules or the solicitation documents; time limits for filing a protest are not specified on the cited page and should be confirmed with Purchasing at the contact link.[1]
Applications & Forms
Required forms (vendor registration, diversity certifications, workforce reports) are typically posted with solicitations or available from Purchasing. If a form name, number, fee, or submission deadline is not posted on the city procurement page, it is "not specified on the cited page"—contact Purchasing for the current forms and submission instructions.
Common Violations
- Failing to include required nondiscrimination or diversity clauses in subcontractor agreements.
- Not providing requested workforce or vendor diversity reports.
- Misrepresenting MWBE/DBE status or certifications.
Action Steps for Contractors
- Review solicitation documents carefully for affirmative action or diversity requirements.
- If required, complete vendor registration and attach any diversity certifications to your bid submission.
- Contact Purchasing early with questions about forms, deadlines, or appeal procedures.[1]
- Maintain records and documentation of outreach and subcontractor selection to demonstrate good-faith compliance.
FAQ
- Who enforces affirmative action language in Green Bay city contracts?
- The City Purchasing Division is the primary office for contract enforcement; specific contract administrators may also be designated on individual solicitations.[1]
- Are there set fines for violations of affirmative action clauses?
- Monetary fines are not listed on the cited city pages; contract remedies or ordinance provisions determine penalties and should be confirmed with Purchasing.[2]
- How can a small or minority-owned business register to work with the city?
- Register as a vendor via the Purchasing Division and monitor bid postings; contact Purchasing for any required diversity certification processes.[1]
How-To
- Find current solicitations and contract documents on the City Purchasing Division page.[1]
- Complete vendor registration and attach any required certifications with your bid.
- Document outreach and subcontractor selection steps to show compliance.
- If notified of noncompliance, respond promptly to Purchasing and follow any corrective action or appeal procedures in the contract.
Key Takeaways
- Read each solicitation for specific affirmative action clauses and reporting requirements.
- Keep clear records of outreach and subcontractor selection to defend compliance.
Help and Support / Resources
- City of Green Bay Purchasing Division
- Green Bay Code of Ordinances (Municode)
- City of Green Bay Human Resources