City launches Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise program

For the next two years, Austin will give extra consideration to businesses owned by disabled veterans when evaluating responses to request for proposal solicitations. Known as the Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise program, it will allow those businesses to receive an extra three percentage preference points, because businesses owned by disabled veterans are categorized as historically underutilized businesses by the state of Texas. To receive the three-point consideration, a service-disabled veteran business must be a prime contractor or consultant to the respondent and must be a registered vendor with the city. At the conclusion of the two-year trial, the city will evaluate the effectiveness of the program and suggest any changes to City Council to include in a long-term implementation.