This Guidance is to assist the Contractor in understanding the information being sought by the Department for each of the Diversity elements and where these issues may already be addressed in the contract. To the extent these issues are already addressed in a contract, the Contractor need only cross reference the location.

DOE contracts include clauses on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. The plan may discuss a Contractor’s policies and plans for implementation of these clauses in business operations.

A plan may discuss any programs the Contractor has already provided, or which it intends to provide, which will give all employees an opportunity to improve their employment skills and opportunities with particular attention to those areas where individuals may require focused training because of educational or skill gaps linked to economic status. This could include: educational assistance allowances, provision for outside training programs either during or outside regular work hours, and executive training programs for non-executive employees. A plan may also discuss any plans to participate in programs supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic servicing institution, and Native American institutions.

A plan’s discussion of diversity sensitivities in community relations activities could include support for diverse elements of the local community in the following activities: support for science, mathematics, and engineering education; support for community service organizations; assistance to governmental and community service organizations and for equal opportunity activities; and community assistance in connection with work force reduction plans. The Contractor may provide support to these activities through direct sponsorship or making individual employees available to work with the specific community activity. A plan may discuss existing and planned activities promoting all elements of the community involvement of its employees as well as the company.

If appropriate to the Contractor, the contract will contain FAR 52.219-9, "Small, Small Disadvantaged and Women-Owned Small Business Subcontracting Plan" (October 1999) and other small business related clauses. Additionally, the Request for Proposal may have contained additional guidance on small business subcontracting. If the Contractor is participating, or plans to participate, in the Department’s mentor-protégé program, this involvement, or planned involvement, could be summarized. Information concerning its subcontracting plans already submitted and approved does not need to be redeveloped or renegotiated.

Some of the Department’s contracts include clauses dealing with technology transfer. Planning or activities developed under such clauses may apply to this element of the diversity plan. Additionally, some of the subcontracting activities planned by the Contractor with small, small disadvantaged, or woman-owned small business concerns may be entered into for the purpose of assisting the economic development of, or transferring technology to, such business concerns. A plan may outline and discuss any planned activities promoting economic diversification of the local community.