The Department of Administrative Services’s Small Business and Supplier Diversity Manager Julian Bailey will help oversee the state’s efforts to increase supplier diversity.
ATLANTA – From fish sticks and canned fruit to feed prisoners to a 22-foot pontoon boat for the state Department of Natural Resources, Georgia buys a lot of goods and services to keep the state running.
State and local government contracts with businesses to provide goods and services amount to about $4.5 billion each year.
A report the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) issued last month outlines steps the state could take to ensure small and minority-owned businesses have a shot at winning those lucrative pieces of the state business pie.
The report stems from an executive order Gov. Brian Kemp signed last July requiring the DOAS to explore ways to increase the amount of state business conducted by small businesses and businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans.
The agency surveyed more than 600 small businesses to learn about their experiences with the state’s contracting process. The survey remains open, but the DOAS has already compiled and published the first round of the results.
The DOAS has named Julian Bailey, who has been with the agency for close to a decade, as its small business and supplier diversity manager. Bailey will work to increase engagement with the targeted business groups.
“The push is to make sure that we’re leveling the playing field for all these businesses, that they’re no longer left behind, that they have an opportunity to be able to participate in the state’s bid processes,” Bailey told Capitol Beat.
Many businesspeople who responded to the survey said they often do not know about relevant opportunities and lack sufficient time or staff to develop bids. These small businesses also lack ready access to capital or fall short of the insurance and bond amounts required to do business with the state.
The new report recommends appointing a small business liaison at each state agency and University System of Georgia institutions to help facilitate business owners’ access to the bidding process. The liaison would conduct outreach and training and help identify bid opportunities.
The state also should increase its “matchmaking” services for businesses interested in the bidding process. This would give small business owners the chance to meet representatives from larger contractors and state agencies and showcase their offerings.
“We plan to partner with all these different organizations, all these different chambers [of commerce] at the local level, to make sure that we are not leaving anyone behind,” Bailey said. “We’re making sure that everyone is able to participate in the state’s bid process.”
The report said Georgia should test out an informal bidding process that would allow businesses to submit informal bids via email for contracts that are $100,000 or less. Such a system would encourage small businesses that are deterred by complex bidding processes.
The state also should decrease the insurance and bond requirements for some state contracts to increase the number of businesses eligible to bid, the report recommended.
About a third of the survey respondents said they face challenges getting sufficient capital to expand a business. Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs plans to expand a small business credit program to increase the amount of capital available for small and minority- owned businesses.
The DOAS already sponsors a number of training resources for business owners interested in bidding for a state contract. A seven-week training class the agency started for small businesses recently concluded training 32 potential suppliers about doing business with Georgia.
“This is a great opportunity, for the state to say, ‘You know what? We’re going to make a difference as it relates to minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses,’ ” Bailey said.
The DOAS also manages procurement processes for smaller government entities, like county commissions and local school boards.
Charlie Maddox, who serves on the board of the Department of Community Affairs and helped connect Black chambers of commerce from across the state to the new program, said small local suppliers can often meet local governments’ needs best.
“Our goal is to let the small employers know what’s out there, and also to match them up with what they are capable of providing,” Maddox said. “Some of these things can be done locally, by people that live in a community.”
Government contracts can provide a steady income and stability to small businesses, Maddox said.
“We want …. the potential business operator out there [to think] that this might be an opportunity for me,” he said. “They may be in Hahira, Georgia, and say ‘Oh, there’s these opportunities. … I want to be connected to that.’ ”
Independent advocates praised the new initiative but said some checks and balances are needed to fully deliver on expectations.
“We are happy to see Governor Kemp acknowledging the importance of creating small business equity with the announcement of the Small Business and Supplier Diversity Initiative Report,” said Rachel Shanklin, Georgia director of Small Business Majority, a small-business advocacy group.
Shanklin urged Kemp to expand Medicaid and take other steps to promote equity in Georgia.
“We hope that the governor will tackle ongoing equity problems in the state through impactful and meaningful policies that increase diversity and remove barriers to long-term resources,” she said.
“Efforts to provide more procurement access to minority-owned and small businesses are always a plus, provided that prevailing wage standards are part of the process to keep out potential contractors who offer relatively low contract bid amounts by paying their employees unlivable wages,” added Ray Khalfani of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.
“This initiative to expand access can provide a larger window of opportunity for minority business owners who seek to create better quality jobs and hire underserved workers.”
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
ATLANTA – Two Atlanta-area Veterans Affairs buildings are being renamed for two former U.S. senators from Georgia who served as longtime advocates for America’s veterans.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills last week that authorized renaming the VA Regional Office in Decatur after the late Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson and the VA Medical Center in Atlanta for former Democratic Sen. Max Cleland, who died late last year.
“Our veterans deserve the best, and Senator Isakson always fought for them,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., sponsor of the bipartisan bill honoring Isakson. “Renaming the Atlanta VA Regional Office in his honor will inspire us to stand up for Georgia’s veterans every day like Senator Isakson did.”
Cleland, who lost both of his legs and right arm serving in Vietnam, served as administrator of the VA under then-President Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s and later spent one term in the Senate.
“Max Cleland was an empathetic leader and a passionate patriot with a warrior’s heart for our veterans and for Georgia,” said Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., who sponsored the legislation honoring Cleland. “His life and legacy will live forever in our hearts.”
Both bills passed the House last week with bipartisan support after clearing the Senate earlier this year. They now head to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp stumps for U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker in Cobb County on Saturday.
SMYRNA – Recently re-elected Republican Gov. Brian Kemp campaigned Saturday on behalf of former University of Georgia football star and U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker, who is facing a Dec. 6 runoff for Georgia’s U.S. Senate seat.
“Look, we cannot rest on our laurels here,” Kemp said to the Walker supporters gathered in a parking lot in Cobb County.
“Who do you want to fight for you in the United States Senate? Do you want a guy that represents our values like Herschel Walker or do you want a guy who’s stood with Joe Biden 96% of the time?
“This is going to be a turnout election – who’s more motivated? Is it them or us?,” Kemp said, urging Georgia Republicans to take advantage of early voting and vote as soon as possible.
“I know Herschel Walker will do like we’ve done in Georgia, be fiscally conservative,” Kemp added.
The joint appearance represents a departure from fall campaign events, when Kemp and Walker kept their distance from each other and ran separate campaigns.
Though Kemp defeated Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams for the governor’s seat, Republican Walker fell short of incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock by about 38,000 votes in the Nov. 8 general election. Because neither candidate earned more than 50% of the vote, the two face a Dec. 6 runoff.
Kemp and Walker blamed Warnock and President Joe Biden for inflation. Kemp touted steps Georgia has taken under his leadership to address economic pressures, such as temporarily lifting the gas tax.
“We need someone in Washington that’s gonna …. row the boat with Governor Kemp,” Walker told the crowd. “What [Warnock has] been doing is rowing the boat against Governor Kemp.”
“He [Warnock] voted to put men in women’s sports. Men shouldn’t be in women’s sports,” Walker said. “It’s written in my Bible and it says woman came from the rib of the man. Senator Warnock need[s] to read his Bible.”
“They want to bring wokeness in our school house,” Walker added. “Instead of teaching our kids how to read and write, they want to teach them about [critical race theory]. … That won’t happen on my watch.”
Early voting in the runoff is due to begin on Saturday, Nov. 26.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
ATLANTA – It looks like there will be early voting on a Saturday after all ahead of next month’s U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia.
A Fulton County Superior Court judge ruled Friday that holding early voting on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day is legal and may proceed.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office indicated shortly after the Nov. 8 election that put incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker into a runoff that Saturday, Nov. 26, would be set aside for early voting.
However, Raffensperger subsequently declared that holding early voting that day would violate a state law that prohibits runoffs on any day immediately following a state holiday. Besides Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 24, the following day, Nov. 25, is a state holiday.
Warnock’s campaign sued to force a reversal of Raffensperger’s decision and prevailed in Friday’s ruling.
“Allowing for Saturday early voting is a win for every Georgia voter, but especially for workers and students who will have a greater opportunity to make their voices heard in this election,” said Quentin Fulks, Warnock’s campaign manager. “We look forward to counties announcing that they will provide Georgians the opportunity to cast their ballots on Saturday, November 26th.”
While Warnock held a slight lead over Walker following the general election, neither candidate captured a majority of the vote as required by state law to avoid a runoff. Georgia voters will return to the polls Dec. 6 to decide the winner.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
ATLANTA – For decades, Georgia’s military bases could rely on an influential congressional delegation to land the new missions they needed to remain vibrant.
The Peach State first had U.S. Rep. Carl Vinson and Sen. Richard Russell chairing their respective chambers’ Armed Services committees, putting them in perfect position to look out for Georgia’s interests. They were followed by Sen. Sam Nunn, who chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee, and later by Sens. Max Cleland and Saxby Chambliss, who served on the panel.
‘We always had someone from Georgia on the Senate Armed Services Committee,” Chambliss told Capitol Beat Nov. 16. “We could authorize every program we wanted to.”
Today finds the Georgia delegation less well positioned to compete for an especially large number of potential military missions on the horizon.
“Austin Scott has very big shoulders he’s going to have to carry,” Chambliss said, referring to the Republican congressman from Tifton serving on the House Armed Services Committee. “We have no member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. That’s a mistake.”
The list of potential military missions includes:
the replacement of A-10 Warthog aircraft based at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta with a newer version.
the competition to build a new fleet of Air Force refueling tankers in Alabama and fit them out at the Lockheed Martin plant at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta.
the production of a new version of the Air Force C-130 aircraft at Lockheed.
the production of EC-37B aircraft at Gulfstream in Savannah.
funding for the new Columbia-class submarines likely to be stationed at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in St. Marys.
efforts to oppose a Biden administration plan to close the Air Dominance Center in Savannah.
proposed funding to upgrade military housing in Georgia, stemming from a Senate investigation of substandard housing at Fort Gordon near Augusta.
Scott said he’s up to the task.
“As the only Georgian on a congressional defense committee, I am proud to be a part of
Georgia’s strong tradition of supporting our armed forces by ensuring they have the best equipment and training to defend our great nation,” he said in a prepared statement.
“We are excited about new missions, the progress we have made in bringing new platforms to Georgia, the improvements the [Defense Department] will be making for the
living conditions of our service members, and the positive steps we have taken to stop the unnecessary and fiscally irresponsible proposed closure of the Air Dominance Center in Savannah.”
Scott has pushed for several years for funding to replace the A-10 Warthogs at Moody. He has argued they were critical in the fight against ISIS with their unique ability to operate at low altitudes with rugged terrain.
“It’s still a very viable weapons system,” Chambliss added. “But they’re old and are going to be replaced at some point.”
Lockheed is working in partnership with Europe-based Airbus in the competition to build new refueling tankers for the Air Force.
Heath Garrett, who served as chief of staff for the late Sen. Johnny Isakson, said landing the tanker mission at Lockheed would provide a huge boost for a company that suffered thousands of layoffs during the Great Recession a decade ago.
“Adding that tanker refueling to Lockheed would have a significant job impact and add to the diversity of Lockheed,” he said. “It’s a joint-use base. We want as many uses there as we can get.”
“Any time we can bring new opportunities to Marietta, the entire community benefits — to include our neighbors at Dobbins Air Reserve Base,” added Rod McLean, vice President and general manager of the Air Mobility & Maritime Missions Line of Business at Lockheed.
“A new business allows us to stabilize the plant and to keep teammates employed with highly skilled, technical and good paying jobs. New business helps us retain current employees, hire more teammates and extend more work opportunities to benefit the local economy.”
Gulfstream, Georgia’s largest manufacturing employer, is building EC-37Bs at its Savannah plant for a communications disruption mission to replace an older generation of the aircraft. Ground testing of the system is due to begin early next year, with the first EC-37Bs expected to enter service later in 2023.
“Lockheed helped build the north side of Atlanta,” Garrett said. “Gulfstream is helping build the economic base of the Savannah region.”
While much of the Georgia congressional delegation’s efforts on behalf of the state’s military bases are to win new missions, the lawmakers also are fighting to keep what the state already has. That retention effort includes the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, an Air National Guard training facility for military pilots the Biden administration is looking to close.
“It’s never been a high-profile facility, but there are only three in the country,” Chambliss said. “It’s not cheap to maintain, but compared to what we do at other bases, we get more bang for the buck.”
While Scott is the only member of Georgia’s congressional delegation serving on a defense committee, others have been active in efforts both to land new missions and improve living conditions for active service members.
A Senate subcommittee headed by Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., launched an investigation last year into the condition of privatized military housing at Fort Gordon that could lead to more funding.
Georgia’s other senator, Democrat Raphael Warnock, brought Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., to Georgia to get a first-hand look at the state’s military bases and their needs, including plans to modernize the dock at Kings Bay to service the new Columbia-class submarines.
Warnock also won passage of an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill calling on the Pentagon to reexamine the dislocation allowance it provides service members transferred from one base to another.
The defense bill currently is before House and Senate conferees, with a goal of gaining final passage and sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature by the end of the year, according to Warnock’s office.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
