Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business Program (MCUB)

The Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business (MCUB) program is designed to engage and promote businesses that are vying for Met Council projects and procurements and are owned and operated by women; Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian people; veterans; and people with disabilities.

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MCUB firms can do business with the Met Council in two ways:

  • Through procurements, selling products or services to the Met Council
  • Through projects, as a subcontractor working on the Met Council's projects

We have established these agency-wide MCUB purchasing goals:

  • At least 10% of all procurement of goods and services
  • At least 14% of all construction and professional technical contracting

Qualifying as an MCUB

In order to qualify as an MCUB firm, the business must be Minnesota-based and have an active certification from one of these programs:

Applying for DBE, Targeted Group or CERT certification

The Minnesota Department of Administration has created a one-stop-shop certification portal for businesses that wish to submit an application for any of the three certifications listed above.

Directory of MCUB firms

Firms with these active certifications are listed in the MCUB Directory, which is updated monthly.

MCUB participation contract goals for locally funded projects

Project contracts will include MCUB participation goals if they meet the following three requirements:

  • The project is locally funded

  • There are opportunities for subcontractors

  • The contract value is more than $175,000

All bidders/proposers for projects with MCUB goals will be required to meet the MCUB goal percentage. If the bidder/proposers is not able to meet the goal they may receive a waiver from OEO based on their Good Faith Efforts (PDF).

MCUB procurement programs

We have MCUB procurement programs called MCUB Direct, Select, and Preference, which are intended to reduce barriers and increase utilization of MCUB firms that do business with us.

MCUB Direct: The Met Council will apply the micro level purchase process for a procurement up to $25,000 when one (1) small, targeted group business, designated under Minnesota Statutes section 16C.16, or one (1) veteran-owned small business designated under Minnesota States section 16C.16 is likely to bid.

MCUB Select: The Met Council will apply a sheltered market solicitation process for a procurement for goods or services of up to $175,000 when at least three (3) small, targeted group businesses, designated under Minnesota Statues section 16C.16, or three (3) veteran-owned small businesses designated under Minnesota Statues section 16C.16 are likely to bid.

MCUB Preference: The Met Council will provide a 6% evaluation preference for a procurement for goods or services between $25,000 and $175,000, solicited via request for quote or invitation for bid, when one (1) small, targeted group business, designated under Minnesota Statutes section 16C.16, or one (1) veteran-owned small business designated under Minnesota States section 16C.16 is likely to bid.