The Vendor Outreach Program (VOP) at the City of Saint Paul is a business assistance program aimed at helping woman-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses (WBE, MBE, SBE). Under the program, the City of Saint Paul establishes annual goals and project-specific goals for purchasing from WBEs, MBEs and SBEs in a variety of products/service categories.

Contract and Analysis Services (CAS) staff make every effort to include WBEs, MBEs and SBEs in solicitations and set goals on City of Saint Paul construction and development projects for use of WBEs, MBEs and SBEs as subcontractors.

Potential bidders and proposers are encouraged to check the bid specification or RFP document for specific VOP goals for a given contract.

Ramsey County has adopted the Inclusiveness in Contracting Program (IICP) to facilitate the involvement of WBEs, MBEs, and SBEs in Ramsey County contracts.

CAS staff help to set goals and solicit eligible vendors to meet IICP guidelines.

To participate in the Vendor Outreach Program (VOP) or Inclusiveness in Contracting Program (IICP) programs, businesses must either be on the certified list or become certified to assure that they meet eligibility requirements.

Visit the CERT Program for additional information.

Section 183.04 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code and the Rules Governing Affirmative Requirements give the City of Saint Paul the authority to monitor contractors' affirmative action and equal employment opportunity efforts.

These regulations apply to any vendor, regardless of the nature of its business, whose total accumulated contract awards by the City of Saint Paul meet or exceed $50,000 within the preceding twelve month period. Note: This is true whether one contract equals $50,000 or several contracts within a one-year period total $50,000.

Visit Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity for more information.