Human Services Agency of San Francisco

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Are you a city vendor, private land developer or construction contractor who needs to hire through the First Source Hiring program? Meeting your requirements and hiring employees is easy with our help.

What Is the First Source Hiring Program?

The First Source Hiring Program was initially enacted into law (Chapter 83 of the City's Administrative Code) in San Francisco in August 1998. The ordinance was modified in April 2006.

The intent of First Source is to connect low-income San Francisco residents with entry-level jobs that are generated by the City's investment in contracts or public works; or by business activity that requires approval by the City's Planning Department or permits by the Department of Building Inspection.

How Do I Find Qualified First Source Applicants?

HSA manages an innovative First Source Hiring program that serves employers and employment seekers. First Source staff assesses job-seekers and provides personalized services to employers to make the best possible job match while meeting their First Source Hiring requirements.

Business account representatives work with the HSA's employment specialists to screen, match, and refer San Francisco job-seekers to First Source job openings. While First Source is a City contractual requirement, we know it only really works if the employer is satisfied with the people they eventually hire. Let us show you how easy it is to do business with the City and County of San Francisco.

To get started, download the Employer Projection Form.

What Projects Qualify Under First Source?

• Any activity that requires discretionary action by the City's Planning Commission related to a commercial activity over 25,000 square feet including, but not limited to, conditional use, project authorization under San Francisco Planning Code Section 309 and office development under Planning Code Section 320, et sec.
• Any building permit applications for a residential project over 10 units.
• City-issued public construction contracts in excess of $350,000.
• City contracts for goods and services in excess of $50,000.
• Leases of City property.
• Grants and loans issued by City departments in excess of $50,000.

How Does First Source Work?

• For businesses or non-profits who receive a non-construction or professional services contract from a City Department over $50,000, those successful bidders are required to project the number of entry-level job openings they expect during the contract period and forward that information to First Source.
• For City issued construction contracts in excess of $350,000, or for private developments that fall within the scope of the Chapter 83 requirements, CityBuild is the operational arm of First Source in working with construction contractors to hire local residents for apprentice positions.
• Entry-level jobs are defined as those non-managerial position that require either no education above a high school diploma (or equivalency) OR no more than 2 years of specific training or work experience.
• Successful bidders are required to post their entry-level openings with First Source and offer the City the first opportunity to refer qualified candidates to those positions.
• While the ordinance does not require an employer to hire a specific candidate, it does require that employers make a good faith effort to hire referrals from the City's workforce development system.

First Source for City Contractors

Most City departments require bidders on city contracts that meet the First Source Hiring Program thresholds to submit a First Source Hiring Program Certification along with their bid package.

Once selected, successful bidders on city contracts must complete a First Source Employer's Projection of Entry Level Positions form within five business days and submit it to the First Source Employment Program. Contractors may also be required to submit a copy of this form to their Contract Manager to document their compliance with First Source. For more information, download the First Source Fact Sheet.

What Are the Penalties for Non-compliance with the First Source Ordinance?

• Liquidated damages of up to $5,000 can be assessed for each entry-level job improperly withheld from the First Source Hiring process.
• Continued failure could result in liquidated damages of up to $10,000 for each entry-level job improperly withheld from the First Source Hiring process.

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