(1) The department may establish a program for highway projects which would assist small businesses. The purpose of this program is to increase competition, lower prices, and provide increased support to meet the department’s future work program. The program may include, but is not limited to, setting aside contracts, providing preference points for the use of small businesses, providing special assistance in bidding and contract completion, waiving bond requirements, and implementing other strategies that would increase competition.
(2) For purposes of this section, the term “small business” means a business with yearly average gross receipts of less than $15 million for road and bridge contracts and less than $6.5 million for professional and nonprofessional services contracts. A business’ average gross receipts is determined by averaging its annual gross receipts over the last 3 years, including the receipts of any affiliate as defined in s. 337.165. (3) The department may adopt rules to implement this section.
