16 | January 2021
SUBCONTRACTORS USA
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
W
here colleges and universities open doors for the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) community through their separate programs, the University of Houston (UH) HUB Operations Department (HOD) uses the “continuous improvement” approach, proving successful in connecting HUBs with this Tier One university for lucrative opportunities. Under the leadership of the Director of HUB Operations Dr. Linelle Clark, she and her team work strategically, diligently, and intentionally to identify and implement everchanging strategies that have proven effective in increasing procurement opportunities for HUBs. As HOD enters a new year and adjusts to the impact of COVID-19; working remotely, social distancing, staying masked up; the HOD team remains ready, willing, and able to promote the inclusion of HUB vendors in university procurements. “This unforeseen pandemic has definitely forced a change in the structure in how our department operates. But I am proud of how my team and I have stepped up, above and beyond to meet the challenge, so we continue to provide HUBs access to procurement opportunities. An example is our Building and Special Trade categories providing large opportunities for HUBs. HOD is also laser focused on the smaller spend areas such as commodities,” said Dr. Clark. Being focused on the smaller spend areas has proven beneficial in exceed-
ing UH’s HUB commodity purchasing goal. HOD revamping its annual HUB vendor fair, taking a more targeted approach has been vital to surge contracting opportunities for HUB exhibitors. For the April 2020 HUB Vendor Fair, fiscal year expenditure data was used by the HOD staff to determine the types of HUB vendors to invite as exhibitors and targeted UH staff with purchasing authority to attend the event. This event included 34 exhibitors and 250 UH staff resulting in $28,859.00 being spent with HUBs. “This was a great effort with predicted outstanding results if we were to move forward, but unfortunately, shortly after hosting this fair, COVID-19 impacted budgets and procurements. HOD however, saw this as an opportunity not to be stagnant, but adapt, still being instrumental as a department to extend procurement opportunities for HUBs,” Dr. Clark expressed.
HOD implemented the following new and improved activities to help increase HUB contracting opportunities that began FY2020: • Elevating the assistance to UH departments in the identification of HUB vendors by: o Providing each college and division with a monthly HUB use report o Holding bi-annual HUB meetings with each college and division to jointly review expenditures to show missed HUB contracting opportunities and provide examples of HUBs that offer those services or commodities o Assisting college and division business offices in finding HUB vendors in needed categories o Providing all colleges with an annual HUB goal designed to stretch
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their prior spend r • HOD and Information T developed a HUB Vendo by colleges and divisio and informal bid procu • HOD held a Purchasing Workshop to help HUBs aware of the benefits of a cooperative and h cooperative member. • HOD created the Did Yo newsletter containing about contracting opp frequently asked ques share tips to help facil contracting opportuni • HOD implemented targ Fairs consisting of exh provide commodities a that colleges/departm a possible need for du fiscal year. • HOD in partnership wi Construction Managem and National Associati Contractors created a Management Talent Pip increase the construct talent pool and provid knowledge to help the competitive as prime c for construction work construction projects. • HOD will host B2G train contractors (primes an to highlight best pract how to successfully ut system. • HOD hosts kick-off eve construction projects only share information 2-way communication and attendees. • HOD continues its HUB participation in commu
Dr. Clark highlight HOD’s recently imp activities:
Construction Talent Pi HUB Operations uses dat in services and innovati to help increase HUB par example, according to th Statistics (BLS), there ar construction job vacanc www.bls.gov/news.relea
