Section 52:32-31.17 - Contracting agency procurement goals, qualified business enterprisesa.(1) The department shall establish contracting agency procurement goals for contracting with qualified business enterprises in the awarding of contracts. These goals may, where appropriate, be attained by the direct designation of prime contracts for qualified business enterprises or by subcontracting, and in accordance with and supported by available data and information. Each contracting agency shall make a good faith effort to attain the goals established in this section.(2) The department shall develop a process for evaluating and adjusting goals to determine what adjustments are necessary to achieve participation goals.b. Each contracting agency shall annually develop, in consultation with the department, a plan for achieving its qualified business enterprise goals.Added by L. 2023 , c. 300, s. 3, eff. 7/15/2024.