(a) In addition to the requirements set forth in this section, in the department’s contracting out for the services of engineers, architects, surveyors, planners, environmental specialists, and material specialists, the department shall comply with the criteria governing the state’s participation goals for minority, women, and disabled veteran owned firms as specified in Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 10115) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. These goals shall apply to the overall dollar amount expended each year by the department pursuant to this article.

(b) The department shall develop a list of qualified minority, women, and disabled veteran business enterprises that have been certified as a minority, women, or disabled veteran business enterprise, and that are interested in performing engineering, architectural, environmental, landscape architectural, or land surveying services under contract with the department, utilizing existing resources such as the Office of Small and Minority Business, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Small Business Administration. Notice of the development of the list and request for statements of interest shall be published in professional publications at least 60 days prior to the deadline for submittal of statements of interest. The qualifications required for minority business enterprises and women business enterprises shall be the same as those required for any other firm or individual contracting with the department for the purposes of this article.

(c) Any minority, women, or disabled veteran business enterprise not initially included on the list of interested firms may file statements of interest at any time, and the department shall evaluate the statements and notify the minority or women or disabled veteran business enterprise of their eligibility for placement on the list within 60 days of the request. Any minority, women, or disabled veteran business enterprise that is eligible to be counted toward the department’s participation goals and that meets the standard requirements shall be added to the list of interested firms immediately.

(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 433, Sec. 7. Effective September 24, 1993.)