Commonwealth and Area Agencies Sign
Agreement to Provide Contracting Opportunities
Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise, and the Virginia Department of General Services Division of Purchases and Supply Team
Richmond , VA – Representing the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (DMBE), the Virginia Department of General Services (DGS) Division of Purchases and Supply (DPS), Commonwealth Secretary of Administration Viola Baskerville and Anthony Scott, executive director of Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

“This is a mutually beneficial opportunity for the Commonwealth, the state’s businesses, and RRHA,” says Secretary of Administration, Viola O. Baskerville. “Small and minority businesses are vital to the progress of Virginia’s economic and workforce development. In signing these documents, we are encouraging participating businesses’ growth and sustainability, which in turn, will have a positive long-term economic impact on the state’s economy.”

The MOU joins the DMBE and RRHA in a written understanding to:
  • Collaborate on providing assistance and exposure to business opportunities for small, women- and minority-owned businesses and Section 3 businesses (These businesses are part of the RRHA Section 3 Program, which fosters local economic development, neighborhood economic improvement and individual self-sufficiency).
  • Have a certifying agency for RRHA vendors.
  • Additionally, the following will be provided through this collaboration:
    • Access to approximately 4,500 minority business enterprises (MBEs)
    • Access to approximately 4,000 women business enterprises (WBEs)
    • The opportunity to distribute information on current or future available RRHA contracts
    • The opportunity to provide certification, management and technical support services and outreach assistance to small, women, minority-owned and Section 3 businesses
    • Assistance with locating business opportunities
    • Certification workshops or seminars on small business development matters
    • Work with RRHA to develop and provide support for Section 3 Certification Program

      The MOA joins the Division of Purchases and Supply and RRHA in a written agreement to help:

      • Leverage RRHA’s buying power through access to 400 statewide contracts and the Commonwealth’s Virginia Partners in Procurement Program to obtain the best prices for goods and services and generate savings.
      • Increase administrative efficiency and savings through use of an electronic instead of a manual procurement process.
      • Improve access to business opportunities for small, woman-owned and minority-owned businesses through use of eVA and the Internet

      RRHA is a multi-faceted Authority with varied responsibilities including – managing and developing affordable housing, building new houses, helping first-time homebuyers through the home-buying process, partnering with government agencies and private businesses for various goods and services, acquiring and revitalizing property to remove blight, helping residents achieve self-sufficiency and more. The Authority’s work to improve the quality of Richmond’s communities is possible through partnerships with some of the Commonwealth’s best businesses.

      “We are so proud to collaborate with the Commonwealth to offer opportunities to the state’s small, women and minority-owned businesses,” said Dr. MaLinda Washington, RRHA director of procurement and contract administration. “This is a great chance for RRHA to enhance its procurement operations by providing contractors with a one-stop shop for services and potential contracts. Further, our partnership with DMBE gives RRHA an immediate boost in our outreach to MBEs and small businesses that are part of our Section 3 Program.” The MOA with DPS will remain in effect until mutually terminated. Both parties or either party must provide the other with a 30 day written notice.

      “This agreement is a step in the right direction toward providing procurement transparency – contractors will have equal and full access to RRHA opportunities and RRHA will now have access to vendors with the proper capacity to bid on our contracts,” said Anthony Scott, RRHA Executive Director. “Additionally, these partnerships help RRHA advance our strategic goals – delivery of quality customer service and foster economic opportunities.”

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      About RRHA

      RRHA plays a key role in assuring the city of Richmond's bright future and has been at the forefront of affordable housing and community development for more than 68 years. RRHA is the largest housing authority in the Commonwealth of Virginia. RRHA serves nearly 10,000 residents and manages nearly 4,100 units through its Public Housing Program; and provides subsidized housing assistance to approximately 3,200 families through its Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program. RRHA also manages neighborhood redevelopment and conservation programs through the city of Richmond. For more information, visit rrha.org.

      About DMBE

      The Department of Minority Business Enterprise is the state agency charged with increasing supplier diversity efforts by creating contracting opportunities and promoting fairness in the state’s procurement process for small, women- and minority-owned businesses. For more information on the mission of the DMBE, visit its website at www.DMBE.Virginia.gov or call (804) 786-5560.

      About DGS

      The Department of General Services (DGS) provides a broad array of services to government agencies, businesses, and citizens. With four divisions including the Division of Purchases and Supply, DGS provides state agencies with support that enables them to focus on their core programs. Services include managing the Commonwealth’s electronic procurement system (eVA); establishing statewide non-technology procurement policies and procedures; providing lower-than-market-cost food items and other supplies to state and local government entities from its central distribution warehouse management; conducting safe and secure public health, environmental, bio-terrorism and chemical terrorism laboratory testing; management and review of projects to ensure compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, life safety and accessibility standards for new construction and renovation projects statewide; Capitol Square facility and grounds operations, security, and maintenance services; acquiring real property, disposing of surplus property, and negotiating facility leases; state vehicle maintenance and management; operation of mail services at the seat of government; and management and operation of the state and federal surplus property programs.