Supplier Diversity

MPHA strongly encourages the participation of  HUD Section 3 certified businesses, as well as minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises.

HUD Section 3 FAQs

Section 3 is part of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 with the purpose of ensuring employment, training, contracting and other economic development opportunities for low income persons when federal dollars are expended. Federal law requires that “to the greatest extent feasible” at least 10% of the total dollar amount of all construction contracts and 3% non-construction contracts be awarded to certified Section 3 businesses.

A business concern can be Section 3 certified if it meets at least one of the following criteria, documented within the last six-month period:

  • It is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by low- or very low-income persons living in the 13 county metro area;
  • Over 75 percent of the labor hours performed for the business over the prior three-month period are performed by Section 3 workers living in the 13 county metro area; or
  • It is a business at least 51 percent owned and controlled by current public housing residents or residents who currently live in Section 8-assisted housing.

The status of a Section 3 business concern shall not be negatively affected by a prior arrest or conviction of its owner(s) or employees.

Nothing in this part shall be construed to require the contracting or subcontracting of a Section 3 business concern. Section 3 business concerns are not exempt from meeting the specifications of the contract.

Section 3 FAQs

Section 3 Self Certification

Section 3 Clause

Section 3 Workers Certification Form

Section 3 Compliance Report

Types of Contracting Opportunities

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Painting, Excavating, General Contracting, Electrical, Plumbing, Cement/Masonry, Drywall, Demolition, Operating engineering, Bricklaying, Flooring, Landscaping, Mechanical, Final Cleaning, etc.

Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses

MPHA’s policy is to endeavor to award a fair share of contracts to small, woman-owned (WBE), and minority-owned (MBE) enterprises. Affirmative steps are taken to help ensure that such businesses are utilized, when possible, as sources of supplies, equipment, construction, and other services by:

  • Including qualified small, WBEs, and MBEs on solicitation lists;
  • Ensuring that small, WBEs, and MBEs are solicited whenever they are potential sources;
  • When feasible, dividing total requirements into smaller tasks or quantities in order to permit maximum participation by small, WBEs, and MBEs;
  • Requiring the prime contractor to take the aforestated affirmative steps whenever subcontracts are to be let.

MPHA has established goals which are to be seriously pursued relative to all MPHA procurement activities. Those goals are:

  • 7% WBE participation,
  • 20% MBE participation, and
  • 10% Section 3 participation

MPHA recognizes all official certifying entities within the State of Minnesota as appropriate to certifying an individual/business as a small, WBE, or MBE.

Supplier Diversity Seminars

MPHA periodically conducts Supplier Diversity Seminars where various topics on building your business are presented by select speakers. Presentations on conducting business with MPHA are also featured. This is a great opportunity for networking. For information regarding the Seminars, please contact our Procurement Department at (612) 342-1424.

Contact Us

For further information on the MPHA Section 3 Program or how to certify your business as a Section 3 business or to obtain a certified Section 3 business listing, contact the Procurement Department at 612-342-1424.