About the SBDAA

About the Essex County Office of Small Business Development and Affirmative Action

Mission Statement

Our mission is to ensure equal opportunity and fair play in the procurement and contracting processes of Essex County through our efforts in the following areas:

Strategic partnerships with private sector financiers and insurers of small, women, and minority-owned businesses
Outreach to individuals, groups and organizations in order to expand our network of small, women, and minority-owned businesses. Towards this end, we advertise all bids on Tuesdays in The Star Ledger
Technical Assistance to help business owners gain necessary certifications, financing, and bonding
Collaborative partnerships with groups and organizations that share the County’s commitment to equal opportunity

SBDAA History

In 2002 before entering his first term in office, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. established an Affirmative Action Committee as part of his 200-member Transition Team. When he took office on January 1, 2003, he created the Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action. The volunteer members from the Transition Team's Affirmative Action Committee remained involved with the DiVincenzo administration as an Advisory Committee for the Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action.

As the County Executive decided that more needed to be done to promote equal opportunities for access to the County's procurement system, a Disparity Study Commission was appointed. A consultant was retained to conduct public hearings, examine records and provide recommendations.

The findings were presented to the public in October 2005 at the conclusion of an eight-month study. It resulted in the December opening of the Office of Small Business Development and Economic Opportunity, designed to help the County make their public contracting and procurement policies and procedures more available to small, woman, and minority-owned businesses. In December 2005, Deborah E. Collins, Esq. was appointed Small Business Development and Economic Opportunity Officer. Two years later, in 2007, Ms. Collins took on added responsibilities as the County's Affirmative Action Officer and the name of the office was changed to the Office of Small Business Development and Affirmative Action. Building upon the Office's initial success and positioning it to have an even greater impact within the small business community, Mr. Samuel Okparaeke, Executive Director of the Essex County Workforce Development Board began his tenure as Director of Small Business Development in March 2018. Mr. Okparaeke brings a wealth of knowledge to the office, with over 25 years of experience in Workforce and Econmic Development. His goal is to have SBDAA & the WDB work collaboratively together to better serve our small business owners and provide greater access to resources.

A year and a half after the Office opened; the County also unveiled a new Vendor Registration System. Essex was the first county in New Jersey to implement a system of this caliber. Later, in 2009, the County launched a purchasing portal to enable vendors to receive email or telefax notifications of upcoming business opportunities. The portal can be accessed at http://www.essex-countynj.org/procure/.

In November of 2009, the County became the first in the State to launch a Bonding Readiness Program offering vendors the opportunity to become bonded or increase their bonding limits. Over a three-year period, 113 business owners completed the educational component of the program. The total dollar amount of bonded companies was $5,400,000.00 with an additional potential bonding amount of $9,300,000.00. Thus far, 34 of the companies have achieved bonding or have been deemed bondable.

In July of 2011, Essex again made history by becoming the first and only County in the nation to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. As a result, we recognize the certification issued by the Chamber and expand our outreach to include local LGBT affiliates.

Since its opening, the SBDAA has reached out to the community of small, women and minority business owners through a variety of business expos. In fact, since 2006, this office has hosted over 100 events. The events include the Essex County Procurement Expo, the “Women's Business Enterprise Procurement Expo”, “Reaching New Heights – Professional Services Procurement Expo”, "Demystifying the Request for Proposal Process," and "Meet the General Contractors," among others.

How to register to do business with the County of Essex

Please go online to our website at http://purchasing.essexcountynj.org and register there to receive email notifications of business opportunities with the County. Your registration must indicate all products you sell or all services you provide(by choosing the appropriate commodity classifications from the drop-down menu provided) Should you need assistance with Purchasing Portal Vendor Registration please contact the office of Purchasing at (973) 621-5100

How is the County’s Procurement function governed?

The County of Essex, similar to all governments in the State of New Jersey is mandated to follow the provisions of Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et sec) and N.J.S.A 19:44A-20.4 et sec Chapter 19 is also called “Pay-to Play.

When is public advertising for bids required?

Public advertising for competitive bidding is required for any purchase above $17,500 pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4 et sec., superseding 40A:11-1 et sec. (L.P.C.L.)

Where are the public advertisements placed?

Advertisements are placed every Tuesday in The Star-Ledger and on the County’s Purchasing Portal at www.essexcountynj.orr/procure

Does the County have a set-aside program?

What items can be purchased using the competitive contracting process?

40A: 11-4.1 lists the purchases for which competitive contracting may be used, including the purchase and licensing of proprietary software, energy service companies, laboratory testing services, concessions, operation of recreation of social programs, operation of water or wastewater systems, or other services with the approval of the Division of Local Government Services.

What is the County’s payment method?

The County is precluded by the Law from making an advance payment. Payment is made after the vendor receives a purchase order, renders the services, or ships the product, and signs and returns a payment voucher.