State DBE Procurement

Fascinating to us, as a DMWBE supplier contracting with state governments, was the Insight Center for Community Economic Development’s Survey of State Inclusive Business Programs. … “The purpose of the Insight Center’s state policy scan of inclusive business programs is to promote policies and programs that enhance minority and women business development.” Given that our last two posts talked about the benefits of diversity in procurement and defining diversity, their premise that … “M/WBE development builds intergenerational family assets, aids community reinvestment, creates jobs, adds to the tax base, and links communities of color to the regional economy.” … was music to our ears!

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Diversity Value Add

Supplier Diversity as a circle of life construct brings value to government and private clients, business communities, job markets and future entrpreneurs.

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I am the Customer!

Maybe all of us need to re-learn this lesson periodically so we entrepreneurs can be more proactive about our “customer-ness”. Often times we’re so busy running our businesses, providing services for our own customers that we neglect the fact we are another company’s client and a part of their revenue stream.

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Is an 8(a) Certification right for your company?

A major feature of this program is the ability to participate in federal procurements that are specifically set aside for 8(a) certified businesses. If your company is interested in doing business with federal agencies and it meets the disadvantaged SBA standards, the 8(a) certification program might be a good fit for you.

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What is Behind a Site Visit?

Don’t be intimidated by or worry about a site visit. We’ve been visited a lot … 14 certifications worth! The visits have been about confirming information and they give the certifying organization an opportunity to explore and understand the business first hand.

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What’s in a word – Control?

To be a diversity certified business, the diverse owners must control the business. The owner has to have the authority and “power to direct or determine” or influence what will happen in the business, both now and in the future.

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