DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS PROGRAM

(a) The department shall: (1) set annual goals for the awarding of state or federally funded contracts, including construction, maintenance, supply, and service contracts, to disadvantaged businesses and shall attempt to meet the goals; (2) assess the availability of disadvantaged businesses in this state; (3) attempt to identify disadvantaged businesses in this state that provide or have the potential to provide supplies, materials, equipment, or services to the department; (4) give disadvantaged businesses full access to the department's contract bidding process, inform the businesses about the process, offer the businesses assistance concerning the process, and identify barriers to the businesses' participation in the process; and (5) allocate the responsibility for performing the duties prescribed by this section among persons in the department's headquarters and regional offices. (b) The goals under Subsection (a)(1) must approximate the federal requirement for federal money used for highway construction and maintenance consistent with other applicable state and federal law. (c) The department's equal opportunity office shall participate in the development of requests for proposals and other departmental documents relating to the bidding process. (d) This section does not exempt the department from competitive bidding requirements provided by other law.