It is the policy of the department to:
  (1) ensure that Small Business Enterprises (SBE) shall have an equal opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts;
  (2) create a level playing field on which SBEs can compete fairly for contracts and subcontracts;
  (3) help remove barriers to the participation of Small Business Enterprises in department contracts;
  (4) assist in the development of firms that can compete successfully in the market place outside the SBE program;
  (5) develop and maintain a program in order to facilitate contracting opportunities for small businesses; and
  (6) conduct the SBE program to foster small business participation in compliance with 49 C.F.R. §26.39. The SBE program is a supplement to the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and the state's Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program, and is used when the DBE and HUB programs do not apply, as provided in §9.301 of this chapter (relating to Applicability of Program).

Source Note: The provisions of this §9.300 adopted to be effective September 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 5320; amended to be effective September 19, 2018, 43 TexReg 5996