MBE/WBE/SBE/LSA

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles encourages participation of Minority Owned Business Enterprises (MBE), Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE), Small Business Enterprises (SBE) and Labor Surplus Area (LSA) businesses in its procurement opportunities. Our procurement policy and outreach efforts ensure that these businesses have equal opportunity to compete for and do business with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).

In compliance with all applicable laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, HACLA takes affirmative steps to ensure that MBEs, WBEs, SBEs and LSAs are used when possible and requires its contractors to demonstrate their good faith efforts to use such businesses for subcontracting and supply opportunities. 

We continuously seek to identify qualified MBEs, WBEs, SBEs and LSAs. If you qualify as one of those types of business, please identify yourself as such in the vendor application and contact the MBE/WBE Compliance Administrator at sone.davayan@hacla.org.

HACLA has developed a Section 3 and MBE/WBE/SBE/LSA Business Registry and uses the registry as a resource for direct contracting opportunities. Our contractors and developers are encouraged to use the registry for their contracting and subcontracting needs. The registry is updated monthly and posted on the website. Click here to access it.

What is a....?

“Labor Surplus Area” (LSA)

Defined as a business which, together with its immediate subcontractors, will incur more than 50% of the cost of performing the contract in an area of concentrated unemployment or underemployment, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor in 20 CFR Part 654, Subpart A, and in the list of Labor Surplus Areas published by the Employment and Training Administration. 

Visit the U.S. Department of Labor website for more information on Labor Surplus Area. The website provides description of Labor Surplus Areas and provides most recent Labor Surplus List under the "Related Links." on the right.

“Minority Owned Business Enterprise” (MBE)

Defined as a business which is at least 51% owned by one or more minority group members; or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, one in which at least 51% of its voting stock is owned by one or more minority group members, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more such individuals. Minority group members include, but are not limited to Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Indian Americans, and Hasidic Jewish Americans.

“Small Business Enterprise” (SBE)

Refers to an independently owned; not dominant in its field of operation; and not an affiliate or subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operation. The size standards in 13 CFR Part 121 will be used, unless HACLA determines that their use is inappropriate.

"Women's Business Enterprise" (WBE)

Defined as a business that is at least 51% owned by a woman or women who are U.S. citizens and who control and operate the business.