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HUB Program Overview

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s (UTHealth) HUB and Small Business Program is fully committed to the Good Faith Effort to enhance the opportunity of HUBs and Small Businesses participating in the State and Federal marketplace. UTHealth's HUB and Small Business Program was established to identify, educate and assist HUBs and Small Businesses in participating in the purchasing process thereby increasing the number and value of contracts and purchases awarded to minority, woman-owned and small businesses. 

Supporting HUBs and Small Businesses is the responsibility of everyone with the authority to obligate funds at UTHealth. Please remember to use HUBs and Small Businesses in your day-to-day purchasing decisions. Working together, we can be successful in our efforts to be good community partners. Thank you for your cooperation and recognition of this important effort.

UTHealth HUB Subcontracting Plan Checklist

Determination of Good Faith Efforts when subcontracting:r

  • Divide the contract work into reasonable lots or portions to the extent consistent with prudent industry practices.
  • Give notification in writing to all potential bidders- Notification Form is included in the HSP package.  Use of this form is highly recommended.
  • You must allow the HUBs at least seven (7) working days to respond to the notice prior to your submitting you response to the contracting agency. (Does not include the day notice was sent)
  • Notify a minimum of two (2) minority or women trade organizations or development centers of subcontracting opportunities (see list attached to Rider 104 HUB Plan for contact information). Complete Section B-3 (d) of Option 3 Attachment B.
  • Give notification to at least 3 HUBs for each trade/scope identified for the project.
  • Provide written justification of the selection process if a HUB is not selected.  Complete Section B-4 (b) of Option 3 Attachment B.
  • Encourage participation non-certified minority or woman owned businesses to apply for State certification.
  • Provide supporting documentation of all good faith efforts.  Failure to produce required documentation may result in rejection of your HUB Plan and subsequently your proposal.
  1. This contract is anticipated to exceed $100,000 and it has been determined that HUB subcontracting opportunities exist.
  2. All bidders must submit a HUB Subcontracting Plan regardless of whether you are a certified Texas HUB or not.
  3. You may choose to subcontract or self perform.  You have 4 GFE options for subcontracting / self performing.  HSP Check List is on Page 6.
  4. If you choose to self perform, you will be required to provide a detailed Self Performance Justification as to how your company will perform the entire contract with its own equipment, supplies, materials and employees in SECTION 3 of the HUB Subcontracting Plan.
  5. When subcontracting, you must contact three (3) or more certified HUB subcontractors from the State of Texas Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) for each subcontracting opportunity. https://mycpa.cpa.state.us/tpasscmblsearch/index.jsp           
  6. You will need to provide the subcontractors with written notification to include the scope of work, information regarding the location to review applicable plans and specifications, bonding and insurance requirements and identify a contact person.  Utilize the HUB Subcontracting Opportunity Notification Form Page 21 of the HSP Documents.
  7. You must allow the HUB subcontractors no less than seven (7) working days from the receipt of their notice to respond.
  8. You must also list the subcontracting opportunity with a minority and woman trade organizations or development centers no less than seven (7) working days prior to your submission of your HUB Subcontracting Plan for this bid.
  9. You are required to submit all supporting documentation (HUB Subcontracting Opportunity Notification Form(s), letters, phone logs, fax transmittals, emails, etc.) demonstrating evidence of good faith effort performed in contacting subcontractors and listings.
  10. You are required to submit on your company letterhead your Statement of Understanding pertaining to either self performance or subcontracting.
  11. If your HUB Subcontracting Plan does not meet the State of Texas guidelines, the associated bid proposal cannot be opened and will be returned to you unopened.
  12. Two copies of your HUB Subcontracting Plan are required in a separate envelope from the bid proposal.
  13. For answers to frequently asked questions regarding the HUB Subcontracting Plan, please visit our HUB webpage at https://www.uth.edu/buy/hub.htm.

Contact Information:

Maira Y. Artola-Maldonado
Manager, Historically Underutilized Business and Small Business Programs
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: 713-500-4862

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is a HUB vendor? A Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
    • is at least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, American Woman or Service Disabled Veteran
    • is an entity with its principal place of business in Texas, and
    • has an owner residing in Texas with a proportionate interest that actively participates in the control, operations and management of the entity’s affairs.
  2. How does my company become HUB certified?
    • To obtain State of Texas HUB certification, complete and submit a HUB Certification Application.
    • Allow 30 – 45 days after receipt to process the application.
  3. What are the benefits of HUB certification?
    • In accordance with Texas Administrative Code §111.13, each state agency shall make a good faith effort to utilize HUBs in contracts for construction, services (including professional and consulting services) and commodities purchases.
    • HUB certification is free of charge.
    • Certification is valid for 4 years, provided that business continues to meet the eligibility requirements.*
    • Business is registered on the Comptroller’s web-based HUB Directory. State agencies use the HUB Directory in conjunction with the Comptroller’s Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) to solicit bids from certified HUBs for state purchasing and public works contracts. Prime contractors also use the HUB Directory to identify HUBs to whom they will send notification of their subcontracting opportunities.
    • Increased exposure to the general public, as well as, other entities that have a supplier diversity program and are searching for minority and woman-owned businesses.
    • Certification is valid for 4 years, provided that business continues to meet the eligibility requirements.*
  4. What is a Mentor Protégé program and how can I enroll?
    • The State of Texas Mentor Protégé Program is designed to foster long-term relationships between prime contractors and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs). The objective of the Mentor Protégé Program is to provide professional guidance and support to the protégé (HUB) in order to facilitate their growth and development and increase HUB contracts and subcontracts with the State of Texas.
    • Participation the program requires the protégé be State of Texas HUB certified and the Mentor Protégé Agreement be sponsored by a state agency.
    • The following criteria may be considered for Mentor participation by state agencies:
      • Registration with the State of Texas Centralized Master Bidders List,
      • Previous mentoring experience and prior work history,
      • Ability to provide developmental guidance in areas identified by the protégé, and
      • "Good Standing" in doing business with the State of Texas.
    • The following criteria may be considered for Protégé participation by state agencies:
      • Eligibility and willingness to obtain HUB certification under the State of Texas HUB Program (Protégé must be certified as a HUB prior to TPASS listing the Mentor Protégé Agreement on the official list),
      • Business in operation for at least one year,
      • Desire to participate with a mentoring firm,
      • Ability to identify the type of guidance needed for business development, and
      • "Good Standing" in doing business with the State of Texas.

    • To apply, the prospective mentor and protégé must complete the application and submit to Maira Artola-Maldonado, HUB Manager.


HUB Subcontracting Frequently Asked Questions and Common Errors:

  • What is a Vendor Identification (VID) Number and where can I get one?
    • A VID number is issued by the Comptroller’s office to every vendor who does business with the state of Texas. Typically, the unique VID number is based on your business’s federal Employer Identification Number (EIN).
    • If you have not done business with the state before and do not have a VID, please provide your EIN in areas that ask for the VID.
    • If you do not have an EIN number, please contact the IRS and apply for one by telephone at (800) 829-4933 or online.
  • My business is certified as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB). Must I complete the HSP (HUB Subcontracting Plan)?
    • Yes. Certification as a HUB does not exclude HUBs from responding to solicitations as prime contractors and therefore does not exempt a HUB-certified business from completing the HSP and making a good faith effort to contact other HUBs to notify them of subcontracting opportunities.
  • I am not subcontracting. Do I have to complete the HSP?
    • Yes. All respondents must complete the HSP. If you will not be subcontracting, complete only the necessary sections, including Section Nine, which asks for a detailed explanation of how you will meet contract expectations using your own resources.
  • I am a manufacturer and have several distributors that are HUB certified and some that are not. How do I reflect this in the HSP?
    • If you do not have a Mentor/Protégé agreement with your HUB distributors, you must still make a good faith effort to contact three HUBs to notify them of subcontracting opportunities as required in Method B (attachment B), Section B-3 of the HSP. The HUB vendors you contact can be HUBs that you currently use to distribute your goods.
    • List all distributors you may use in Method B (attachment B) Section B-4 of the HSP. If the list exceeds two, include an attachment in the same format that continues the list.
    • For all non-HUB distributors, provide written justification of your selection process as requested in Section Eight.
  • Affirmations provided in lieu of descriptive language in Section 3 of the HSP
    • It is not sufficient to simply affirm that you will complete the contractual obligations using your own resources. You must describe how you will do this using your own equipment, supplies, materials and/or employees.
  • Failure to make good faith effort
    • You must contact at least three HUBs per subcontracting opportunity that you identify in your HSP. You are required to document that HUB vendors were contacted and submit the supporting documentation with your HSP. This documentation can include phone logs, e-mails, faxes, etc.