University of Virginia
OP-T2-24: Historically Underutilized Businesses

The Supplier Diversity Initiative exists as a resource for diverse vendors to the University of Virginia, as well as prime contractors and University faculty and staff. Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services pursues the goal of increasing the amount of business done with Small, Woman-Owned, and Minority-Owned (SWaM) firms by providing information and undertaking new initiatives to reach out to the diverse vendor community: 1) Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services notifies eVA and the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (DMBE) of all new Requests for Proposal to help ensure that SWaM firms are aware of opportunities for doing business with the University. 2) The University's Guidelines for Competition list the policies University staff must follow when making a purchase. 3) SWaM firms are invited and encouraged to attend the bi-monthly Vendor Training sessions conducted by the Director of Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services. 4) Supplier Diversity works with the University's majority-owned prime contractors to encourage subcontracting opportunities, joint ventures, and partnerships for SWaM firms. 5) The Supplier Diversity Initiative maintains the University's relationships with small and diverse business advocacy organizations, including the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WBENC affiliate) the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, and the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services also pursues the goal of increasing the amount of business done with SWaM firms by providing information to departments about the goods and services offered by SWaM vendors. 1) Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services works directly with University departments to provide information about SWaM firms. 2) This website includes a search of VDMBE-certified vendors that allows users to find SWaM vendors by the type of commodity they provide, and which gives Integrated System Supplier Numbers for those that are already registered in our system. 3) University departments can contact Supplier Diversity directly (see contact information below)for help in finding SWaM vendors.