In a move aimed at strengthening their procurement processes, San Antonio's certification agency for small, minority-owned businesses, the South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA), will now operate under the aegis of Supply SA. As per a report by the San Antonio Report, the transition is expected to streamline the certification for public contracts, which for many local businesses offer a gateway to a significant slice of the region's $9 billion in government projects.
The integration comes as the SCTR_BASE, originally established in 1998, grapples with staffing woes and an urgent need for increased funding. Supply SA, on the other hand, was founded in 2022 with the purpose of maximizing "the procurement economy" for economic growth, particularly for the city's small and minority-owned businesses. Supply SA is collectively supported by CEOs of prominent public entities that previously played a role in SCTRCA's operations. Due to these overlapping interests, the SCTRCA board, which consists primarily of procurement specialists from these entities, did not vote on the proposal to merge under Supply SA.
Amidst the backdrop of these bureaucratic shifts, the need for efficient and accessible certification processes remains critical for companies seeking to navigate lucrative government contracts. As mentioned in the San Antonio Report, Jessica Bateman from Alamo Nex Construction highlighted the difficulties her company faces in finding locally certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) to partner with—a requirement when federal funds cross a certain threshold. Bateman stressed the dwindling number of available DBEs and the need for clarity in the certification process, during a statement at the SCTRCA board's meeting.
This scrutiny on local certifications coincides with significant infrastructure projects managed by firms like Alamo Nex Construction. The company's current endeavor, reported by Alamo Nex, involves a $1.59 billion project that includes redesigning and improving a 9.5-mile stretch of I-35, among other critical enhancements. Such projects underscore the importance of an efficient, transparent certification pipeline to ensure opportunities are available for the pertinent small, minority-owned businesses.
Under the new arrangement, SCTR_BASE certifications will be carried out within the Supply SA framework, where a new director will be appointed and additional staff will be hired. The funding for this new direction stems from a considerable increase in dues paid by member organizations, paving the way for a budget of around $1.2 million for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Marisol V. Robles, the program manager for the small business opportunities at SAWS, who sits on the SCTRCA board, welcomed the integration, considering it a step towards the "long-term sustainability for this organization," according to what she told the San Antonio Report.
