JPS Health Network and project manager Broaddus-LeVis are working hard to make sure the health network’s $800 million construction program has significant participation from Minority, and Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs).
That means companies owned by minorities and women will have access to winning contracts as vendors, working on the $800 million bond construction project to improve and expand JPS. Historically, these economically disadvantaged groups have had a difficult time accessing these kinds of contracts. A 2020 study by Harris County, where one of the largest medical districts is located in Houston, found that only 9.1 percent of their vendor contracts went to businesses operated by minorities and women.
Mark Hallman, Vice President and Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer at JPS, said the services the health network offers are for the entire community. So building the facilities that provide those services should be something for the entire community, too.
“JPS team members find it very important to not only represent the healthcare needs of Tarrant County, but that our partners represent the diverse members of our community as well,” Hallman said. “We strive to find the best partners that are eager to respond to the healthcare demand in our community and reflect the diverse community in Tarrant County.”
"From day one, JPS has emphasized their goal for the bond program to be innovative and make a major impact on increasing the capacity of M/WBE firms."
LeVis Consulting Group, half of the construction management partnership that will oversee the massive bond project is both minority and woman- owned. Monica Bailey Jackson serves as its president, owner and founder.
According to Jackson, things that are being done to enhance opportunities to participate in the bond program for minority and woman-owned businesses include a robust communication and outreach program to engage M/WBE contractors in JPS Bond Program contracting opportunities including subcontractor opportunities for smaller minority and woman-owned businesses. M/WBE utilization will be tracked and reported monthly.
“From day one, JPS has emphasized their goal for the bond program to be innovative and make a major impact on increasing the capacity of M/WBE firms,” Jackson said. “I am so excited about the leading-edge initiatives and activities our Broaddus-LeVis Team is developing to engage, utilize and strengthen M/WBEs through the bond program to make a difference in Tarrant County.”
Darrick Walls, Senior Program Manager with Broaddus Associates said he’s proud to be part of an inclusive project that will make Tarrant County better for all parts of the community.
“The JPS Bond Program is an excellent opportunity to help build capacity for the local Historically Underutilized Businesses M/WBE community,” Walls said. “The Broaddus-LeVis team has been committed to diversity and inclusion within our team as well as promoting JPS goals throughout the JPS Bond Program. We are excited to partner with JPS to help achieve the HUB M/WBE goals.”
JPS and Broaddus-LeVis will work with a number of M/WBE advocacy groups to help it connect with minority and woman-owned businesses. Those organizations include the Arlington African American Chamber of Commerce, the Arlington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the DFW Minority Supplier Development Council, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Minority Contractors – DFW, the Regional Black Contractors Association, the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association, the Tarrant County Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Pan American Chamber of Commerce Southwest, and the Women’s Business Council Southwest.
For more information on how to become a JPS Bond Construction Program vendor, visit the health network’s vendor page, https://www.jpshealthnet.org/vendors.