Weatherization RFP not acceptable, legislators say RFP omits legislative language ensuring inclusiveness

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Minnesota’s Legislative Black Caucus members say they will encourage Twin Cities area Community Action Programs to reject initial bids for the metro area’s multi-million dollar weatherization initiative because the language in the requests for bids did not mirror language in the authorizing legislation.

The authorizing legislation provides Minnesota over $100 million for weatherization of homes and includes dollars for training people to do the weatherization work. The Bill specifically required contractors to demonstrate inclusivity, meaning sub-contracting with firms owned by women, Blacks, and other people of color. The legislation specified training dollars and outreach marketing targeting underserved and historically excluded populations.

But that language was conspicuously absent from the Request for Bids issued by a consortium of metro area Community Action Programs.