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Small Business Enterprise Program

The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program provides opportunities for small businesses to meet the requirements to do business with Pinellas County. The SBE Program is not specific to minority businesses or women’s businesses, and it has a sheltered market component for engagements up to $100,000.

To increase opportunities for participation for certified small businesses in Pinellas County, the Purchasing and Risk Management Division has assembled a pool of certified SBE consultants for Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) engagements below the $100,000 sheltered-market threshold. When the county needs a product or a service with a value less than $100,000, it turns to that list of certified small businesses to find a firm with expertise and qualifications that fit.

How To Participate

This notice from the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners Purchasing and Risk Management Division invites you to register to receive solicitation notices for any or all of the below areas.

  1. Formal invitation to bids and request for proposal notifications are accomplished through OpenGov Procurement. You must register as a vendor through OpenGov Procurement to bid on active County solicitations. After registering, make sure to subscribe to Pinellas County’s page.
  2. Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) Professional Services solicitations are accomplished through OpenGov notifications.
  3. The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program provides opportunities and support for small businesses to move from subcontracting and subconsulting to prime contracting and consulting roles. As part of the SBE Program, the Purchasing and Risk Management Division uses OpenGov to seek quotations from Pinellas County small businesses for purchases valued between $5,000 and $100,000. Supplier lists are based on SBE applications processed through the Economic Development department. The program is a race and gender-neutral program. Visit the Pinellas County Economic Development website to complete an SBE application.
  4. Subcontractors may also participate in Pinellas County solicitations. Finding and building relationships with prime contractors can be accomplished by marketing your company directly to prime contractors. Primes meet many subs, so make sure your business cards are memorable and describe your area of expertise. Answer all calls. Prime contractors may not call a second time if you are not responsive to their attempts to reach you.
  5. In order to ensure you are included in the Pinellas County procurement process, please register with OpenGov and make sure to subscribe to Pinellas County in the registration process so you are notified about newly advertised solicitations that may be of interest to your firm. In addition, the Purchasing and Risk Management Division publishes a list of awarded contracts.

Should you need technical assistance with OpenGov, the following options are available for assistance:

Contact information for general purchasing process questions:

Purchasing and Risk Management Division

400 South Ft. Harrison, Sixth Floor
Clearwater, Florida 33756
Phone: 727-464-3311
Fax: 727-464-3925