OP 72.12: Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB)

 

[Major revision–posted 7/10/26 (replaces 8/15/24 edition)]

 

Operating Policy and Procedure

OP 72.12: Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB)

DATE: July 10, 2026

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Operating Policy/Procedure (OP) is to establish the policy and outline the procedures for the utilization of VetHUBs for the purchases of goods and services by the Texas Tech University System and its component institutions. This OP shall apply to all purchases of goods and services regardless of the source of funds used for payment.

REVIEW: This OP will be reviewed every two years after publication by the Senior Vice President for Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer, the Assistant Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, and the Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction with substantive revisions forwarded to the President.

POLICY/PROCEDURE

1.  Policy

a.    Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) is overseen by the Texas Comptroller and focuses on the certification of service-disabled veterans (SDV) to facilitate their growth and development and increase contracts and subcontracts with the State of Texas.

b.    The Comptroller’s rules are located in Texas Administrative Code §§ 20.281–20.298.

c.    Texas Tech will make a good-faith effort to utilize VetHUBs in contracts and purchases awarded, in accordance with the goal percentages adopted and posted on the websites of Texas Tech or the TTU System each fiscal year.

d.    Definitions

(1)   A State of Texas Veteran Heroes United in Business Historically Underutilized Business (VetHUB) certification requires at least 51 percent of the business to be owned, managed, and operated by owner(s) who meet the qualified requirement as a service disabled veteran (SDV) (with at least a 20 percent service disability as identified by the federal military department). The business must be primarily based in Texas. The business must also meet the Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards set forth in the business categories of 13 CFR, section 121.201.

(2)    A Mentor-Protégé Program is a program designed by the Texas Comptroller to assist agencies in identifying prime contractors and HUBs partners to foster long-term contractual relationships. Mentor-Protégé agreements shall be established by Procurement Services for contracts except for TTU System construction contracts, which will be established by Facilities Planning & Construction.

2.  Responsibilities

a.    The Assistant Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer serves as the VetHUB coordinator for Texas Tech University, and the Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction, as the Chancellor’s designee, will serve as the VetHUB coordinator for the TTU System Administration and for all facilities projects that fall under the control of the Office of Facilities Planning & Construction, pursuant to Section 07.13, Regents’ Rules. The VetHUB coordinators or their designees shall coordinate programs to recruit, identify, and certify VetHUBs; report any required information; and match VetHUBs with appropriate procurement opportunities.

b.    The VetHUB coordinators and their designees are responsible for obtaining and utilizing the Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) as the primary reference list for VetHUB vendors. All Texas Tech or Texas Tech University System employees participating in the purchase of goods and services will be held accountable for adhering to the requirements of this OP.

c.    The VetHUB coordinators or their designees will prepare, publicize, and distribute information on procurement procedures to encourage businesses owned by VetHUBs to participate in the institution’s acquisition of goods and services.

The VetHUB coordinators will also:

(1)    Provide potential bidders/proposers with the CMBL website, VetHUB Directory, and/or other directories when searching for VetHUB subcontractors;

(2)    Determine whether specific Texas Tech and TTU System goals are appropriate;

(3)    Identify potential subcontracting opportunities in all contracts requiring a VetHUB subcontracting plan and seek VetHUB subcontracting on contracts that do not require a VetHUB subcontracting plan, whenever possible; and

(4)    Encourage the utilization of firms that commit to using certified VetHUB firms to provide a portion of the goods and services.

d.    Contractors/vendors will:

(1)    Make all reasonable efforts to maintain their stated VetHUB participation goal, regardless of the changed scope of goods or services in the contract; and

(2)    Prepare and submit established forms within the time designated on each form.

e.    The contractor’s/vendor’s past performance in meeting the requirements outlined in the award may be a consideration in determining future awards of Texas Tech/TTU System contracts.

3.  Data Collection and Reporting

The VetHUB coordinators will coordinate with each other and comply with all VetHUB reporting requirements, including biannual reports to the Texas Comptroller.

a.    A VetHUB report will be produced monthly to assess awards made to VetHUBs in accordance with Texas Government Code 2161.

b.    Biannual reports will be prepared and submitted to the Texas Comptroller by March 15 and September 15 each year.

c.    Reports to the Board of Regents will be provided as requested.

4.  Legislative Appropriation Request

Texas Tech and Texas Tech University System must include as part of its legislative appropriations request a detailed report for consideration by the budget committees of the legislature that shows the extent to which the agency complied with Texas Government Code, Chapter 2161 and the rules of the Comptroller adopted under this chapter during the two calendar years preceding the calendar year in which the request is submitted. To the extent TTU/TTUS did not comply, the report must demonstrate the reasons for that fact. The extent to which TTU/TTUS complies with this chapter and the rules of the Comptroller adopted under this chapter is considered a key performance measure for purposes of the appropriations process.

5.  VetHUB Forums

Each state agency with a biennial appropriation that exceeds $10 million shall participate in the program by sending senior managers and procurement personnel to attend relevant presentations and by informing the agency’s contractors about presentations that may be relevant to anticipated subcontracting opportunities.

6.  Resources

Texas Government Code, Chapter 2161

Texas Administrative Code §§ 20.281–20.298

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