Axe ’Em, Jacks!
The university is committed to making a good faith effort to increase business with Historically Underutilized Businesses by contracting directly with HUBs or indirectly through subcontracting opportunities, and ensuring that all vendors, including HUBs, receive full and equal opportunity to participate in contracting opportunities through race-, ethnic- and gender-neutral policies.
Lacey Bradshaw, Contracting Specialist II, is the official HUB Coordinator and is assisted by other Procurement staff. Kay Johnson, Executive Director of Finance and Administrative Services, oversees the administration of the HUB Program.
Program Goals
| Procurement Category | SFA Goals | State Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Construction | 13.8% | 11.2% |
| Building Construction | 13.5% | 21.1% |
| Special Trades | 13.8% | 32.9% |
| Professional Services | 20.0% | 23.7% |
| Other Services | 21.3% | 26% |
| Commodities | 23.7% | 21.1% |
How to become HUB Certified
The first step to becoming certified by the State of Texas as a Historically Underutilized Business is determining whether your company meets the requirements for HUB certification.
A HUB should meet the following criteria:
- Must be at least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, American woman, and/or a veteran(s) who has suffered at least a 20% service-connected disability.
- Must be a for-profit entity that has not exceeded the size standard prescribed by 34 TAC 20.23, and has its principal place of business in Texas.
- Must have an owner residing in Texas with a proportionate interest that actively participates in the control, operations and management of the entity's affairs.
If you believe your business meets these requirements, a HUB certification application must be completed and submitted to the Texas Procurement and Support Services HUB Division. If you need assistance in completing the forms, you may contact the SFA HUB Coordinator at 936.468.4412.
For more information, visit the State of Texas Historically Underutilized Business Program website.
HUB Mentor-Protégé Program
The goal of Stephen F. Austin State University's HUB Mentor-Protégé Program is to build effective working relationships between leaders of mature, established companies and emerging minority- and women-owned companies in order for the latter to benefit from the knowledge and experience of the established firm.
The purpose of the Mentor-Protégé program is to identify and overcome barriers that typically inhibit or restrict the success of minority- and women-owned businesses by encouraging relationships with other businesses, thereby increasing the ability of HUBs to contract with state agencies or receive subcontracts under state agency contracts.
Participation in the Mentor-Protégé program is voluntary on both the part of the mentor and protégé and is neither a guarantee for contract opportunity nor a promise of business.
If you are interested in participating as either a mentor or protégé, contact the SFA HUB coordinator in Procurement and Business Services.
Mentor-Protégé Agreement
The Mentor-Protégé Agreement is a document drawn between the mentor and protégé detailing the nature of the relationship for the purpose of SFA sponsorship. By working together in regularly scheduled meetings, mentors focus on developing protégés' business plans, and implementing the actions necessary to obtain results reflected in the Mentor-Protégé sample agreement.
Who Can Be a Protégé?
Mentor Eligibility
A mentor firm is a larger, well-established and successful company that is willing to unselfishly commit time and resources to teach, develop and grow a small business that is ready to take the next step toward growth and success. Consideration of eligibility will include, but not be limited to, completion of an application and the following:
- registration with the State of Texas Centralized Master Bidders List
- whether the mentor is in "good standing" with the State of Texas and is not in violation of any state statutes, rules or governing policies
- previous mentoring experience and prior work history
- and ability to provide developmental guidance in areas identified by the protégé.
Protégé Eligibility
A protégé firm is a smaller company with a vision and qualifications for growth, but needs the environment in which to learn more about their industry and/or successful ways to promote growth from within. Consideration of eligibility will include, but not be limited to, completion of an application and the following:
- whether the protégé is eligible and willing to become certified as a HUB; or is a currently certified HUB business (Protégé must be certified as a HUB prior to TPASS accepting the Mentor-Protégé Agreement as an agency approved agreement)
- business in operation for at least one year
- ability to identify the type of guidance that is needed for business development
- whether the protégé is in "good standing" with the State of Texas and is not in violation of any state statutes, rules or governing policies
- desires to participate with a mentoring firm.