Rhode Island General Laws Title 37. Public Property and Works § 37-14.1-3. Definitions

(a) “Affirmative action” means taking specific steps to eliminate discrimination and its effects, to ensure nondiscriminatory results and practices in the future, and to involve minority business enterprises fully in contracts and programs funded by the state.

(b) “Compliance” means the condition existing when a contractor has met and implemented the requirements of this chapter.

(c) “Contract” means a mutually binding legal relationship or any modification thereof obligating the seller to furnish supplies or services, including construction, and the buyer to pay for them. For purposes of this chapter, a lease is a contract.

(d) “Contractor” means one who participates, through a contract or subcontract, in any procurement or program covered by this chapter and includes lessees and material suppliers.

(e) “Minority” means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is:

(f) “Minority business enterprise” or “MBE” means a small business concern, as defined pursuant to § 3 of the federal Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. § 632, and implementing regulations, which is owned and controlled by one or more minorities or women. For the purposes of this chapter, owned and controlled means a business:

(g) “MBE coordinator” means the official designated to have overall responsibility for promotion of minority business enterprise in his or her departmental element.

(h) “Noncompliance” means the condition existing when a recipient or contractor has failed to implement the requirements of this chapter.