Preferences in government contracting for immigrants?

by philg

At a recent social gathering an attorney told me about her job at a company run by an immigrant from China. She said that due to his immigrant status the firm goes to the head of the line (along with women-owned and minority-owned companies) whenever there is a government contract. She seemed like a reliable source but at least with a Google search I can’t find the regulation or law that would give an immigrant priority over a native-born American in soaking up the tax dollars (e.g., $182 million to build and run a campground reservation site).

Readers: Is anyone familiar with these rules?

6 thoughts on “Preferences in government contracting for immigrants?”

  1. This has been going on for 20 years at least. “Meebie-Weebies” or MWBE (minority- and women-owned business enterprises) not only go to the front of the line, but, their prices can be 5% higher over the lower non-MWBE bid and still win the contract. And yes Asians of any kind are minorities -despite the fact that China’s population is easily 3X what America’s is.

  3. My local city government offers a “local preference” to local firms bidding on city projects; and, like paddy describes above, the local firm is allowed to exceed the next lowest bidder by up to 5%. Still, nearly always the selection committee recommends the firm that will provide the “best value”; and that’s usually not the low bidder nor the local bidder relying on local preference.

  4. So the theory is that it’s his Chinese-ness and not his immigrant-ness that gets his company in the MWBE pool?

  5. I can’t find the regulation or law that would give an immigrant priority over a native-born American in soaking up the tax dollars

    Members of government-preferred classes get priority hiring in both the private and public sectors. My employer must report employment statistics by race and gender to the federal government every quarter. It’s presumed that the workforce must reflect the racial & gender makeup of the county. Too many White males is not good; a disproportionately high number of government-preferred class members is better.

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