How does the good faith efforts requirement fit with the requirement to award contracts to the “lowest responsible bidder?"

Local governments are required to award contracts to the lowest responsible bidder. Contracts are to be awarded without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, or handicapping condition. G.S. 143-128(h) states explicitly that nothing in the statute requires contractors or awarding authorities to award contracts to or make purchases from M/WBEs that do not submit the lowest responsible, responsive bids. A bid from a contractor who fails to meet the goal or to make the necessary good faith efforts, however, may be rejected.