What are Spending Allocation Goals?

Since July 1, 2026, Connecticut awarding authorities set project-specific SBE and MBE participation goals for state-funded public works, replacing the prior statewide defaults of 25% SBE and 6.25% MBE of state-funded contract value. The goals appear in the bid notification.

How are project-specific Spending Allocation Goals calculated?

CHRO's methodology uses availability data from Connecticut's Contractor Database: the goal reflects the percentage of available CT firms in the project's industry (NAICS codes, averaged unweighted when there are several) and geographic market area (statewide, or a Council of Governments plus adjacent areas) that hold DAS certifications. The awarding authority runs the official calculator and states the goals in the bid notification.

Do MBE dollars count toward the SBE goal?

Yes. MBE certification in Connecticut requires meeting all SBE requirements, so spending with MBE firms counts toward both the MBE goal and the SBE goal.

What if I cannot meet the goals?

Document good faith efforts: written solicitations of certified firms, responses, and business reasons for non-selections. CHRO evaluates the documented effort, which is why contemporaneous records matter.

Spending Allocation Goals: estimate them, then hit them

Since 07/01/2026 the goals are project-specific — set by the awarding authority from certified-firm availability in your industry and market. Estimate yours while you bid, then convert assigned percentages into the dollar targets you actually need to hit.

1 · Estimate your goals (before the bid notification)

Uses the official methodology — certified share of available CT firms per NAICS code and market area, averaged across codes. An estimate only: the awarding authority's assigned goals in the bid notification govern, via CHRO's official calculator.

Awarding agency

Project name

Contract value — state-funded portion ($)

Geographic market area

Typically statewide, but can be limited to the project's Council of Governments (COG) or COG + adjacent COGs.

Industry (NAICS)

at depth:

Computing at: — pick a code —

Several codes average unweighted, per the official methodology.

Computed goals

ⓘ Enter the state-funded contract value and pick at least one NAICS code to compute goals.

2 · Convert assigned goals into dollar targets

Your bid notification gives percentages. Bids are won in dollars.

State funding ($)

Assigned SBE goal (%)

Assigned M/W/DisBE goal (%)

How Spending Allocation Goals work

Since July 1, 2026, the awarding authority sets project-specific goals when bids are released (before that, statewide defaults of 25% SBE / 6.25% MBE applied). The official methodology uses availability data from Connecticut's Contractor Database: the goal reflects the percentage of available CT firms in the relevant industry and geographic market area — your NAICS code(s), averaged unweighted, within the project's Council of Governments plus adjacent areas (or statewide) — that hold DAS certifications. The percentages apply to the state-funded portion of the contract, and M/W/DisBE spending counts toward both goals because diverse certification includes SBE eligibility.

Hitting the number vs. proving the effort

The goals are targets, not absolute mandates — but falling short without a documented trail of good-faith outreach is what triggers enforcement. Solicit certified firms early, keep written records of every contact, and record a business reason for every certified bid you pass on.

Sources & official references

CHRO — Contract Compliance Forms and Reports — the hub for current templates and submission instructions.
CHRO Notice of Changes (Sept. 30, 2025) — the $150k threshold, Spending Allocation Goals, 45-day closeout, 15-day prompt payment, and penalties.
Official templates: GFE Short Form Plan (eff. 7/1/2026) · GFE Long Form Plan (eff. 7/1/2026) · Bid Tabulation Worksheet
CHRO Notice Regarding Record Retention
CHRO Spending Allocation Goal calculator (the awarding-authority portal)

Not legal advice. Requirements and document locations change — verify against the official sources above before filing.

Track committed dollars against these goals, live

GoodFaith CT computes your SBE/MBE percentages from selected bids as you build the job.

Start free