UDC recognizes that small and diverse businesses drive our economy on both the national and local levels.
Through our Supplier Diversity Program, we strive to promote an environment for these businesses to thrive. We are taking steps to accomplish this by fostering an inclusive procurement process that provides the maximum opportunity for small and diverse businesses to participate as partners and suppliers of goods and services.
Ensuring that these suppliers are included in the procurement process increases competition, which leads to lower costs and increased levels of innovation and service quality. UDC will continue to build a supplier base that contributes to our competitive advantage and promotes economic growth within our local communities and the communities we serve by partnering with small and diverse companies.
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Diverse Supplier Qualifications
In addition to small businesses, UDC is interested in engaging with businesses that fall into one or more of the following diversity categories:
- Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBE)
- Woman-owned Business Enterprises (WBE)
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender-owned Business Enterprises (LGBTBE)
- Disability-owned Business Enterprises
- Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
- Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB Zone)
- Veteran-owned Businesses (VBE)
- Service-disabled Veteran-owned Businesses (SDVBE)
These businesses must be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by persons who fit into one of these categories: MBE, WBE, LGBTBE and SDVBE businesses must be certified as such by an independent certification agency. Owners of businesses that fall into the other categories must be willing to sign a self-classification affidavit.
Demonstrating Our Commitment to Supplier Diversity
UDC’s Supplier Diversity efforts include:
- Providing information on our website to explain how to participate in UDC procurement opportunities so that small and diverse businesses know how to engage in the process.
- Identifying services that are well represented by small and diverse businesses and proactively reach out to qualified vendors when sourcing opportunities are available.
- Financial tracking and monthly reporting of diverse supplier spend to increase management awareness of diverse suppliers and to meet client reporting requirements.
- Actively supporting and participating with the advocacy agencies that support the growth, development, and certification of diverse companies, including:
40%
Since 2020, on average, forty percent of UDC’s total vendor contracts are held by diverse suppliers.
National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
Disability:IN formerly the US Business Leadership Network (Disability:IN)
National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)
Benefits of UDC Diverse Supplier Registration
- Business Network Expansion
- Increased Exposure to Business Opportunities
- Enhanced Competitive Edge
Download Diversity Policy PDF >
Becoming a Diverse Supplier to UDC
Small and diverse businesses interested in doing business with UDC should register their companies in the UDC small and diverse vendor database by completing the form below. Should a sourcing opportunity become available for which you are qualified, a member of the UDC procurement team will contact you directly.