Bill > HB2637

This bill amends Titles 51 (Military Affairs), 62 (Procurement), and 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to further provide for veteran-owned small businesses and small diverse businesses. The key provisions of the bill include: - Establishing a Statewide annual participation goal of at least 5% for veteran business enterprises (which includes veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses) in Commonwealth contracts. - Authorizing the Department of General Services to set an aspirational target for veteran business enterprise participation that may be reviewed and adjusted every five years based on a disparity study. - Providing for a Small Diverse Business Program within the Department of General Services to assist small diverse businesses (which includes small businesses owned or controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals) in learning how to do business with Commonwealth agencies. - Exempting procurements for construction and design professional services from the existing small and disadvantaged business provisions and creating a new Participation Program for Construction and Design Professional Services. - Requiring the Department of General Services to complete a Statewide disparity study on the availability and utilization of veteran business enterprises and small diverse businesses every five years to inform the setting of aspirational targets. The bill aims to increase the participation of veteran-owned small businesses and small diverse businesses in Commonwealth procurement and contracting.