Washington Revised Code Title 43. State Government--Executive § 43.19.725. Small businesses--Increased registration in enterprise vendor registration and bid notification system--Increased contracts and purchasing--Model plan--Technical assistance--Recordkeeping

(1) The department must develop a model plan for state agencies to increase: (a) The number of small businesses registering in the state's enterprise vendor registration and bid notification system; (b) the number of such registered small businesses annually receiving state contracts for goods and services purchased by the state; and (c) the percentage of total state dollars spent for goods and services purchased from such registered small businesses. The goal of the plan is to increase the number of small businesses receiving state contracts as well as the percentage of total state dollars spent for goods and services from small businesses registered in the state's enterprise vendor registration and bid notification system by at least fifty percent in fiscal year 2013, and at least one hundred percent in fiscal year 2015 over the baseline data reported for fiscal year 2011.

(2) The department, the department of transportation, and institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 may adopt the model plan developed by the department under subsection (1) of this section. If the agency does not adopt the model plan, it must establish and implement a plan consistent with the goals of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) To facilitate the participation of small businesses in the provision of goods and services to the state, including purchases under chapters 39.26 and 43.105 RCW, the director, under the powers granted under this chapter, and the department, the department of transportation, and institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 operating under delegated authority granted under this chapter or RCW 28B.10.029, must give technical assistance to small businesses regarding the state bidding process. Such technical assistance shall include providing opportunities for the agency to answer vendor questions about the bid solicitation requirements in advance of the bid due date and, upon request, holding a debriefing after the contract award to assist the vendor in understanding how to improve his or her responses for future competitive procurements.