HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2691

(2) The criteria shall include a maximum number
for employees and a maximum dollar volume computed on annual
sales and receipts of a bidder and all its affiliates. The
maximum number of employees and maximum dollar volume may
vary from industry to industry to the extent necessary to
reflect different characteristics However, with respect to
maximum number of employees, a manufacturing business may
not employ more than 250 individuals With respect to
maximum dollar volume, a wholesale business may not have
annual sales in excess of $2,500,000 for its most recent
fiscal year and a retail business or business selling
services may not have annual sales and receipts in excess of
$5,000,000.

(c)  The Secretary shall adopt rules and regulations
specifying procedures for:

(1)  Compiling and maintaining a comprehensive
bidder's list of small businesses;

(2)  Locating potential sources for various
products and services and affirmatively seeking to locate
potential minority business enterprise sources for various
products and services;

(3)  Assisting small businesses in complying with
the procedures for bidding on State contracts;

(4)  Examining requests from using authorities
for purchase of products or services to help determine which
invitations to bid are to be designated small business
set-asides;

(5)  Simplifying procurement specifications and
terms in order to increase the opportunities for small
business participation; [and]

(6)  Investigating the responsibility of bidders
on small business set-asides[.]; AND

(7)  Providing to a small business the reason for
which any bid by the small business for a small business
set-aside was rejected.

The Secretary shall be provided assistance from the
Department of Economic and Community Development in
specifying procedures for paragraphs (c) (1) and (2).

(d)  The Secretary may designate purchase requests for
specified [materials,] supplies[, equipment,] or services,
which have been requested through or with the approval of
the Secretary, as small business set-asides. The invitation
to bid shall indicate purchases that have been designated
small business set-asides.