CPSB: Ad HOC Meeting | July 7, 2026 | 2:00pm

The Caddo Parish Public Schools Ad Hoc meeting held on July 7, 2026, focused primarily on the Opportunity Caddo Program, which aims to support small and emerging local businesses in procurement opportunities. The committee discussed the program's alignment with Louisiana state criteria, vendor registration processes, and challenges in ensuring general contractors solicit bids from certified local vendors. Key issues included the lack of mandatory use of Opportunity Caddo vendors by general contractors, the high rate of non-responsiveness from vendors, and the need for better accountability and data collection on vendor participation. Members proposed recommendations such as implementing an annual or biennial renewal process for vendors, improving communication and training for vendors on procurement procedures, and enhancing oversight of subcontractor solicitation to increase local business participation. The meeting also touched on procurement thresholds, bid laws, and potential use of alternative contracting methods like Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for capital projects. The committee emphasized the importance of policy changes to enforce greater inclusion of local small businesses in contracts and planned to prioritize recommendations for presentation to the full school board.