Alex Harrison the Evanston (Illinois) RoundTable reports Members of the City’s Minority, Women, Disadvantage and Evanston Business Enterprises Development Committee (M/W/DEBE) are debating the potential costs and benefits of requiring contractors to participate in Apprenticeship Training Programs to qualify for Public Works Projects, one of numerous Responsible Bidder requirements proposed as filters on who the City picks for its contracts.  Projects over $25,000 are awarded to the Lowest Responsible Bidder and the proposed requirements would more clearly and strictly define which contractors are considered responsible.  The discussion followed a similar track as the Committee’s first pass in September, as members primarily focused on the provision requiring bidders prove they participate in Apprenticeship Training Programs for each Building Trade included in a given contract, which must be registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.  Each Training Program would also need to have graduated at least five Apprentices in each of the last five years to qualify the bidder.

To Continue Reading This Apprenticeship And Training Labor News Story, Go To: Committee weighs apprenticeship training against local access in city contract standards - Evanston RoundTable