Each awarding department shall appoint an agency Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Advocate. This person shall be the same individual appointed pursuant to Section 14846 of the Government Code. The agency Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Advocate shall do all of the following:

(a) Assist certified disabled veteran business enterprises in participating in that agency’s contracting process.

(b) Assist contract officers in seeking disabled veteran business enterprises to participate in the agency’s contract and procurement activities by performing outreach efforts to recruit disabled veteran business enterprises to offer their services as either a prime contractor or subcontractor on any contract proposed by the awarding department that requires disabled veteran business enterprise participation, and by other feasible means.

(c)  Meet regularly with the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Advocate and contract and procurement staffs of their departments to disseminate information about the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program.

(d) Serve as an advocate for the disabled veteran business enterprises that are utilized as the agency’s contractors or subcontractors.

(e) Report to the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services regarding any violation of this article.

(f) Coordinate and meet, on a regular basis, with the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Advocate at the Department of Veterans Affairs in an effort to meet the statewide 3-percent goal provided for in Section 999.2.

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 451, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2006.)