Supplier Diversity

Defining Diverse Suppliers

Our supplier diversity program recognizes diverse suppliers as for-profit businesses physically located in the U.S. States or one of its trust territories. The businesses must be 51% owned, controlled and operated by a minority; woman; veteran or lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person.

Registration Checklist:

Please prepare the following documentation BEFORE you proceed to register. You will not be able to continue without this information.

1. Basic Company Information
2. Federal Tax ID Number or EIN
3. Basic Contact Information
4. If a consultant/contractor, Consultant/Contractor agreement and Statement of Work signed documents
5. If not a consultant, provide contract, quote, proposal, statement of work, etc

If you are a Diverse Supplier the following documents are required

6. Annual Sales for the past year
7. Primary NAICS Code
8. Three Customer References
9. NMSDC, WBENC or NGLCC Certification Information (If applicable)

Diverse Supplier Definitions

Small Business
A small business is defined by federal law as “one that is independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation.” The law also states that in determining what constitutes a small business, the definition will vary from industry to industry to reflect industry differences accurately.

Click on these links for more information about:

• Small Business Size Regulations
• Table of Size Standards matched to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries.
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Industries

1. Small Business– The Small Business Act (Act) established the SBA to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise, to insure that small businesses receive a fair portion of the Federal Government’s purchases, and to maintain and strengthen the Nation’s overall economy.
2. Women-Owned Small Business – A woman-owned business is defined as a business that is owned and controlled 51% or more by a woman or women. Currently, a woman-owned certification process is not required for federal contracts. (Self certification)
3. Veteran-Owned Small Business – A veteran-owned business is defined as a business that is owned 51% by a veteran(s). There is no veteran-owned certification process to complete, simply self-certify. (Self certification)
4. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business – A small business concern that is at least 51 percent unconditionally and directly owned by one or more service-disabled veterans may represent itself as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern in the Central Contractor Registry at www.ccr.gov To participate in the Federal marketplace, the Veteran must have a service-connected disability that has been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs or his or her respective military branch of service. For more information, please go to www.sba.gov/GC and www.sba.gov/vets.
5. HUBZone Small Business – The Small Business Administration’s HUBZone Program is designed to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed areas by providing access to more federal contracting opportunities. A HUBZone is defined as a “Historically Underutilized Business Zone.” (*Must be Certified by SBA **There is an Expiration Date)
6. Small Disadvantaged Business – SBA certifies SDBs to make them eligible for special bidding benefits. SDBs are at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged. This can include a publicly owned business that has at least 51 percent of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and whose management and daily business is controlled by one or more such individuals.
   1. 8(a) Business Development Program – The SBA administers two particular business assistance programs for small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs). These programs are the 8(a) Business Development Program and the Small Disadvantaged Business Certification Program. While the 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged firms, SDB certification strictly pertains to benefits in Federal procurement. (Companies which are 8(a) firms must be Certified by SBA **There is an Expiration Date)
   2. To qualify for the program, a business must meet the following criteria:
      • It must be a small business by SBA size standards;
      • Its principal office must be located within a HUBZone, which includes lands on federally recognized Indian reservations;
      • It must be owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens (N.B.-this means any level of ownership in an applicant small business by another company would result in a decline). Approved ownership can also be by a Community Development Corporation or Indian tribe; and
      • At least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone.
7. Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals include: Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Asian-Indian Americans.
8. Native Americans include: American Indians, Eskimo, Aleuts and native Hawaiians.
9. Asian-Indian Americans include: United States citizens whose origins are in India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh.
10. Asian-Pacific Americans include: United States Citizens whose origins are in Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Territories of the Pacific Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the federated states of Micronesia.
11. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) – The SIC has been replaced by the six-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. The new NAICS system was developed to reorganize business categories on a production/process-oriented basis. The purpose behind the creation of the NAICS classification system is specifically for governmental regulations and census reports.
12. Subcontract – the term “subcontract” shall mean any agreement (other than one involving an employer-employee relationship) entered in to by a Government prime contractor or subcontractor calling for supplies and/or services required for performance of the contract, contract modification, or subcontract.
13. Sub-Net – Prime contractors use SUB-Net to post subcontracting opportunities. These may or may not be reserved for small business, and they may include either solicitations or other notices — for example, notices of sources sought for teaming partners and subcontractors on future contracts. Small businesses can review this web site to identify opportunities in their areas of expertise. While the web site is designed primarily as a place for large businesses to post solicitations and notices, it is also used by Federal agencies, state and local Governments, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and even foreign Governments for the same purpose.

Certification or Qualification Requirements

• As a Small Business: To qualify as small business… a business concern eligible for assistance from SBA as a small business is one that is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States. It must operate primarily within the United States or make a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor. Together with its affiliates, it must meet the numerical size standards as defined in the Small Business Size Regulations, 13 CFR 121. See the SBA Size Standards home page or go to http://www.sba.gov/certifications/ for more information.
• 8(a): The applicant firm must be a small business, must be unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character and citizens of the United States, and must demonstrate potential for success. Please see http://www.sba.gov/8abd/ for more information.
• HUBZone:To participate in the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program, a concern must be determined to be a “qualified HUBZone small business concern.” A firm can be found to be a qualified HUBZone concern, if:
  1. It is small,
  2. It is located in an “historically underutilized business zone” (HUBZone)
  3. It is owned and controlled by one or more U.S. Citizens, and
  4. At least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone.
• Please see the HUBZone home page (http://www.sba.gov/hubzone/)
• SDB: There are several different applications for various business legal structures. Each legal structure has its own application page. Please refer to the SBA for more information (http://www.sba.gov/sdb/

If a concern self-certifies that it has received SBA’s SDB certification, the Supplier Diversity Program Manager must verify this in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) site (http://www.bpn.gov/ccr/scripts/index.html)

Women-Owned Small Business – FAR 52.219-8
SELF-CERTIFICATION CATEGORY
A small business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more women, or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more women. In addition, one or more women must control the management and daily business operations.

Veteran-Owned Small Business – FAR 52.219-9, 38 USC 101(2)
SELF-CERTIFICATION CATEGORY
A small business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more veterans (as defined in 38 USC 101(2)), or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more veterans. In addition, one or more veterans must control the management and daily business operations.

Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business – FAR 52.219-8, 38 USC 101(16)
SELF-CERTIFICATION CATEGORY
A small business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more service disabled veterans (as defined in 38 USC 101(16)), or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more service disabled veterans. In addition, the management and daily business operations must be controlled by one or more service disabled veterans. In the case of a permanent or severe disability, the spouse or caregiver of such a service-disabled veteran may control the management and daily operations.

VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
A U.S. based, for profit business enterprise, regardless of size, which is at least 51 percent owned, operated, managed, and controlled by a veteran.

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND/OR TRANSGENDERED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
A U.S. based, for profit business enterprise, regardless of size, must be at least 51% owned, operated, managed, and controlled by an LGBT person or persons who are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Supplier Registration